Crossfield business ‘The Donut Man’ has made a special ribbon doughnut in honour of the two Edmonton police officers, Const. Travis Jordan and Const. Brett Ryan, who were killed on March 16.
While there has been a general outpouring of public grief and support for the two officers shot and killed in the line of duty last week, for The Donut Man’s owner, Charlotte Blackwell, that grief is wholly personal, as Const. Brett Ryan was her second cousin.
“It brings it all a little closer to home,” Blackwell told the Rocky View Weekly in a recent interview. “We grew up together. His aunt, my cousin, had asked if I could do a commemorative doughnut for them, and of course I said yes. So we decided to do the ribbon doughnut and put their initials on it.”
The proceeds from the sale of the ribbon doughnut will be donated to a GoFundMe page set up to support the families of both officers.
Over the past week, since launching the commemorative campaign, Blackwell said people have been coming into her shop, located along Railway Street in the heart of downtown Crossfield, from near and far to show their support for the fallen officers, whose funeral will be held on March 27.
“It’s amazing to talk to these people,” she said. “I have met people who worked with them, that went to school with them, that met them – even people who just want to show their love and support for them. It’s amazing and touching … It's emotional.”
And while this show of support does not take away from the grief she and her family are feeling at the moment, Blackwell said it is nice to know so many people care.
“Nothing can take away the loss, but it does mean something when you see other people are hurting with you,” she acknowledged.
Those wanting to show their support for officers Ryan and Jordan by buying a ribbon doughnut from The Donut Shop can do so up until the day of the funeral on March 27. The donuts can either be picked up in person or can be ordered ahead of time for pick-up by calling 403-941-3626.
To donate to the GoFundMe page to support the families visit gofundme.com/f/cst-ryan-cst-jordan-memorial-fundraiser.
