Kelowna RCMP gather evidence at the scene of an August 2011 attack outside of the Delta Grand hotel that killed notorious gangster Jonathan Bacon. Four others were also injured in the daylight shooting. Police announced Tuesday three arrests in the case.

If anyone's relieved by the Jonathan Bacon shooting arrests, it's the staff at the Delta Grand hotel.
Many of the people working that awful day in August 2011 were traumatized by the blood and carnage they saw. Some had to suppress their own fear and try to calm the horrified guests they served.

  • Link: 3 charged in Jonathan Bacon murder

The hotel set up counselling for employees disturbed by the violence. A few are still struggling with the memories and continue to get professional help.
"Some of them have taken longer than others. It depends on their personal ability to deal with such a difficult situation," said Daniel Bibby, the hotel's general manager.
"It's something you hope nobody has to experience again, and something we've worked hard together to get over the emotions of it all."
A few staff are on long-term, stress-related leave because of the killing. A couple employees even resigned, Bibby said Monday.
He and his staff were "delighted" by news of the arrests of three men in the murder of Jonathan Bacon and the attempted murders of four people in the SUV. At Monday's press conference, the RCMP and the province's Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit made special mention of the help they got from Delta Grand staff.
The employees worked closely with the RCMP and gang experts since the shooting, describing what they saw.
"It's taken a lot of investigation and a lot of work to help bring these criminals to justice. I think today is just the accumulation of a lot of efforts behind the scenes. I'm really delighted it's turned out this way.
"Kelowna is a peaceful community," Bibby said. "People come here to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the larger city centres. To have an event like that happen in our community caught everybody off guard."