Family members, friends, and the community filled a funeral home in south Edmonton to pay respect to the 20-year-old international student from India.
“We lost a very young man,” said Gulzar Singh Nirmen, a Sikh community leader.
Singh’s memorial service started with an honour guard led by members from the Alberta First Responders Association.
“We had the honour guard start the service today which was very very deeply moving. It’s an honour,” said Gagandeep Singh Ghuman, a spokesperson for the family.
Jerry Galliford, the president of the Alberta First Responders Association saying, “This is the first time, the Alberta First Responders Association has organized a service for a member, but it’s also the first time that a civilian member has been honoured like this. 33 per cent of our members started out as a security so it hits deep for a lot of people. And that’s why we’re starting here today.”
Singh is being remembered as a kind, selfless, and ambitious man who moved to Canada, a year and a half ago in search of a better life and better opportunities.
“He was a security guard but he wanted to be a police officer. It was very shocking to all the community,” said Nirmen.
Ghuman adding, “He was a boxer, swimmer and always wanted to be a police officer which is why he got into security services.”
Singh was fatally shot while on duty in an apartment building at 107 Avenue and 106 Street just north of downtown Edmonton. When officers arrived, they found him in a stairwell wounded and unresponsive. He died in hospital. He leaves behind his parents and a sister, who are in India.
“Harshandeep’s parents. His elder sister, the whole community was watching the service,” said Ghuman.
The pair accused of killing Singh, Evan Rain and Judith Saulteaux are facing first-degree murder charges. They both are due in court Wednesday for a bail hearing. The community now calling for more safety measures to protect security guards while on duty.
“They’re certainly calling for more reforms. More procedures and regulations and enforcing some security standards,” said Ghuman.
Galliford adding, “My hope is that any of the newer members or even current or active members of security would learn from this situation and ask as their employer for training standards and their safety equipments.”
The family plans to return Singh’s body to his family in India. An online fundraiser raised more than $122,000 to cover funeral and legal expenses, including transporting Singh’s body back to India.