Volunteers restore memorial for Pictou County murder victim Amber Kirwan

Volunteers have restored a monument dedicated to a young murder victim in Nova Scotia.

A community-led effort is bringing new life to a memorial site built in honour of Amber Kirwan, a young woman who was murdered in Pictou County almost 14 years ago.

The monument, which sits along a walking trail overlooking the East River in New Glasgow, N.S., was recently vandalized, prompting the original creator of the site to rally community members once again to restore it.

“I wasn’t aware it had been damaged until I saw a post online,” said Mariea Leil, who spearheaded the original monument after Kirwan’s death. “But I promised I would make it beautiful again – and today, here we are.”

Kirwan was 19 years old when she disappeared in October 2011 after spending a night out with friends at a pool hall in New Glasgow.

Leil created a volunteer search centre in the days following Kirwan’s disappearance. What followed was an outpouring of support – donated food, flyers, and meeting space, as the community came together to help find her.

Kirwan’s body was found a month later, sparking grief and outrage across the region, and Leil worked with local residents to build a monument in her honour.

Proudfoots Home Hardware, a local store where Kirwan had worked, donated flowers and dozens of volunteers contributed their time and service to create the peaceful site by the water.

That same sense of solidarity resurfaced this week as community members rushed to restore the damaged memorial.

“I put out a post online and people immediately jumped on board,” Leil said. “We’ve got about 15 to 20 people out here helping. Better Call Paul was the first to message me saying, ‘You’ve got us and our crew will be there.’”

“I don’t think there wasn’t a person in Pictou County that wasn’t affected by what happened to Amber,” said Stephanie Swain, who volunteered to help.

Kirwan’s parents chose the site along the Samson Trail for its serene view of the water – a place their daughter loved. Leil said the location has become a space of reflection, grief and healing for many.

“What happened to Amber never should have happened,” she said. “She was Pictou County’s angel.”

Leil, who grew up with Kirwan’s parents, said the young woman was known and loved throughout the community. She remembers her as a kind, giving person with a “heart of gold.”

“When you said Amber’s name, even before she went missing, people knew who she was,” she said. “She was just a sweet, sweet girl.”

As volunteers of up to 20 people planted flowers and restored stones Wednesday, Leil reflected on the loss that continues to reverberate across Pictou County.

“We still miss you, Amber and we love you.”

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page