The dreams of two teenage lovers began to come true at a school on a northern Alberta First Nation reserve.
Cory Grey, 19, was the only girl to graduate from Atikameg School’s 2015 class of six students. Dylan Laboucan, 17, was the sole graduate in 2016.
Their families said they planned to leave Whitefish Lake First Nation to attend college — where they had already been accepted — but that they would return and use their education to improve life for future generations.
“That’s what they would always talk about, get out of the reserve and go finish their university and come back and make a difference,” said Laboucan’s aunt, Brenda Auger. “But now, it’s not like that.”
On Wednesday, the flag flew at half-mast at Atikameg School, where hundreds of people began gathering for a two-day wake for Laboucan and Grey. The young couple was shot to death last week, their bodies dumped on well sites in the community kilometres apart. RCMP are investigating the case as a double homicide.
“It’s very shattering for us,” Auger said. “This reserve is not going to be the same [without] Dylan and Cory.”
Angel Grey said her younger sister would have loved seeing such a crowd gathered at the school.
“If only we were doing this for her grad,” Grey said.
She described that day with pride for her little sister — she was a glowing graduate in a long red dress and little red scarf.
“That was the first time that she actually wore a dress,” Grey said. “She looked very beautiful.”
She said that’s because her younger sister was very beautiful — and Laboucan noticed.
Angel Grey said her younger sister would have loved seeing such a crowd gathered for her at the school. (CBC)
‘They were perfect together’
Grey said she remembers Laboucan showing up for Valentine’s Day dinner in 2015.
“He had over six dozen roses and a heart chocolate,” she said. “Cory just turned to pink with a big smile. They were perfect together.”
Cory Grey was going to study early childhood education at Northern Lakes College. Laboucan was going to study power engineering. They’d already made a deposit on an apartment. They’d already bought their pots and pans.
Auger said although many family members are angry, they’re choosing to have faith.
“We believe that we are going to get our answer to why and who did this,” Auger said. “It will come. Our day will come, for Dylan and for Cory.”
Cory Grey and Dylan Laboucan will be buried side by side. (CBC)
Chief Robert Grey, Cory Grey’s uncle, said emotions have been running high on the reserve, but said he hopes recovery can soon begin.
“They were good kids, I have to say they were very good kids,” he said of his niece and her boyfriend.
Angel Grey said she will be strong for her sister and Laboucan.
In a framed photograph on a table surrounded by candles, Cory Grey wears a blue T-shirt with a Superman logo. Her family members wore the same shirt on Wednesday.
“It’s a very strong feeling for people to be here for (Cory) and Dylan,’ Angel Grey said.
A joint funeral will be held on Friday. The couple will be buried together.