• N.S. mass shooting report condemns RCMP failures, calls for dramatic reforms

The report sets out findings on how and why things happened as they did across those two days, and outlines recommendations for police, governments and individuals.

Those recommendations include calls for major changes to RCMP oversight, processes and culture; a process to rethink the structure of policing in Nova Scotia; a national review of public alerting; greater focus on addressing intimate partner violence; and a much expanded collaborative model to ensure community safety.

Charlene Bagley, who lost her father, Tom Bagley, agreed that she was happy with such a wide-ranging report that “looks really good on paper.”

“Whether everything gets done that says it’s going to be done moving forward, we will see,” Bagley said.

The past few months since the inquiry’s public proceedings ended have been the start of her own “healing process, finally” Bagley said, touching the purple necklace that holds the remains of her dad.

Bagley said she thinks her father would be glad that this chapter is now over, so she and her mother can move on.

“He wouldn’t want us hurting,” Bagley said. “He’d want us happy so I’ll try to do that for him, but in the meantime I’m just not giving up — and he knows that.

“My hope is that they will follow through. I’m going to be holding them accountable, so let’s hope.”

Scott MacLeod, brother of victim Sean MacLeod, said he would be interested in being one of the family members assigned to sit on the “accountability body” eventually set up to ensure that the recommendations are carried out.

The report suggests federal and Nova Scotia governments should fund the body, consult with communities on what should be prioritized, provide public updates on progress every three months, and put out an annual report.

“If there’s a body to hold them accountable … then at least there’s that positive side of it. There’s no sneaking away from anything,” MacLeod said.

While MacLeod said nothing will bring his brother back, but if changes are made then “these people didn’t lose their lives for nothing.”

“If it makes a positive change that’s nationwide, it’ll be appreciated I know by families,” MacLeod said.

Michael MacDonald, chair of the Mass Casualty Commission, and fellow commissioners Leanne Fitch and Kim Stanton spoke about the need for action now after the release of their 3,000-page report.

“We do not shy away from declaring hard truths and accountability. We identify them precisely so we can learn from them and do better,” MacDonald said.

“Future acts of violence are preventable if we have the will to do what is necessary.”

The event began with a montage of photos of the 22 people who died in the tragedy followed by a moment of silence.

MacDonald led his remarks by thanking the families of those killed in the rampage for their “unwavering courage and commitment.” The victims, who included a pregnant woman, were killed by a gunman posing as an RCMP officer over 13 hours.

“This is a blueprint that can make Canada a world leader when it comes to community safety,” MacDonald said.

“When implemented, it will establish that those wonderful, dear lives that were taken on April 18 and 19 would not have been taken in vain. Those lives cannot have been taken in vain — that cannot happen.”

Speaking with the media after his remarks, MacDonald defended the commission’s decision to limit direct questions from family lawyers for key witnesses like RCMP officers and the gunman’s partner, Lisa Banfield.

“We set up a system for each witness, tailor-made, that got the best information from them,” he said. “I believe our report dispels any criticism in that regard.

“I challenge anyone to suggest that we did not get all the information. We did.”

• CBC’s full coverage of the inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass casualty

Fitch was clear that a culture change in the RCMP is not a case of “we think that it can change,” but “it must change,” especially given that many reports in the past have called for that transformation.

“This isn’t just something that is directed at the RCMP in Canada, this is policing in Canada. It’s time to rethink the roles and responsibilities, and how to share the responsibility of community safety and well-being with everyone,” Fitch told reporters.

The commissioners also thanked key politicians including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, and federal Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino, for attending the release of the report in person.

“It is so important that you are here. Our recommendations call for transformative change, they call for collaboration, they call for leadership,” MacDonald said.

“They call for you to champion these recommendations so that our communities in Nova Scotia and Canada will be safer.”

If you are experiencing distress or overwhelming emotions at any time, you can call the Nova Scotia Provincial Crisis Line 24/7 at 1-888-429-8167. The Nova Scotia Provincial Crisis Service can also provide contacts for other crisis services that are available if you live outside Nova Scotia. 

If you or someone you know is struggling in any way, you can call 211 or visit 211.ca. 211 offers help 24 hours a day in more than one hundred languages and will be able to connect you directly to the right services for your needs.