Kyle Harry's family and friends Tanya Harry, Grant Hoyles and Steven Harry plant a tree and a cross in his memory at the Side Door Youth Centre. - Dawn Ostrem/NNSL photo

Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 18/01) - Several trees are being planted around Yellowknife in the memory of Kyle Harry, the victim of a fatal bear mauling on June 2.

Three cottonwood trees will be placed in significant spots around the city.

One was temporarily planted at the Side Door Youth Centre on July 13. It will be transplanted to the new building area once the renovations are completed.

"It means a great deal and it is a great healing process," said Harry's aunt, Betty Low, at the small informal ceremony in a lot behind the youth centre and the Anglican Church.

"It shows how much the young people of Yellowknife cared about Kyle."

Crosses that were built by some of Harry's friends will be placed with the trees.

A cross and cottonwood stand at Sir John Franklin high school, where Harry attended school, and a large cross was installed at Prosperous Lake at the site where the 18-year-old died.

On the day of the fatal attack the youth had been camping with friends near Prosperous Lake. On that tragic day he and a 14-year-old girl had stayed behind while the rest of the group went to town for supplies. Fortunately, the girl managed to escape with minor injuries.

Harry's large group of friends and his family are leaving markers to remember him by.

"It's a grieving process for the kids," said Sherry Boulet. "They can watch him grow."

Harry had many friends, including several at the youth centre where the first tree was planted.

"Kyle pretty much brought my son home," Boulet added. "He was going astray and Kyle brought him home. This is a way we thought the kids could move on."