A Halifax-area mother is fighting to save a roadside memorial dedicated to her son who died in a vehicle collision in February 2024, but the Halifax Regional Municipality has a two-year limit on roadside memorial sites, and the local homeowners association is pushing the municipal rules. The roadside memorial is made up of two rubber boots filled with flowers, along with a picture of classic sports car painted on a stone, along with a miniature toy car, that’s set back more than 10 feet from Glen Arbour Way where the crash happened. “You cannot put a timeline on grief,” said Kristina Partington, the mother of Brody Shaw, who died in the 2024 collision. “There is no timeline for grief,” said Partington. “Grief will last forever and ever. Especially when you lose a child.” Partington said she doesn’t agree with the HRM bylaw that was brought into effect in 2021, which puts a 24-month cap on roadside memorials. Partington’s son, Brody, was a commercial fisherman and just 23-years-old at the time of the fatal collision. She said the two boots and the flowers are symbolic of the kind of person her son was. He was caring, thoughtful and hard-working and generous, said Partington and he loved fishing in the sea. “He lived in his rubber boots, and he always brought me flowers,” she said. Partington says she still comes to see the memorial site as often as once a week, to bring flowers and tidy up the site, and to pause and reflect, and remember her son. She says Brody’s siblings and friends will often do the same. “My daughter definitely comes down and she prays. I’ve watched her pray,” said Partington. “And my older son comes down too when he’s really missing his brother. ” Partington says she received an email about the tribute site from the area homeowners association president asking her if they or she could remove the memorial, while reminding Partington about the municipality’s by-law. Kim Mailman is the Glen Harbour HOA president and told CTV News there were two complaints received from residents about the memorial site and said they have given Partington extra time to remove the memorial. Partington has started a petition to keep the memorial in place and says if someone is going to take it down, it’ll be her. “I don’t I don’t really agree with the bylaw,” she said. “I respect every law, every policy and my children were brought up to do the same, but you cannot put a timeline on grief.” Partington says she’s going to speak with HRM about the matter. The municipality declined an interview but in a statement to CTV News said the removal of roadside memorials can be an emotional issue and staff will work directly with individuals involved to explain the policy and review the circumstances of the any particular memorial. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
