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Wilson wasn’t the only one connected to Woodall through the bond of fatherhood.

“It still stings, it’s still upsetting. My kids are the same age as Callen and Gabe, so it still hits home,” Mayor Don Iveson said following the ceremony.

He said the park will serve as a well-used gathering place and a constant reminder of the events of June 8, 2015.

For officers patrolling the city’s streets, Chief Rod Knecht said the incident has led to them to be “much more prepared” and “much more in tune.”

The outpouring of support from the city and its residents following the murder also served to inspire.

Recruit Const. Joel Rashotte, whose police recruit class took part in the ceremony after a training run at the park, said he signed up to be an officer in part because of the city’s reaction to Woodall’s death.

“You kind of appreciate the enormity of the EPS family,” said Rashotte, a former military service member who has discussed the possibility of a worst-case scenario with his own family.

“That’s always on the top, I think, of everybody’s mind. They just want to do a good job and do it safely, and keep people safe,” he said. “My parents are quite supportive. They understand the risks and they believe it’s for the right reasons. I think that gives them a bit of peace.”

Woodall’s widow supported that sentiment a few days earlier and on Wednesday added thanks for the love the city has given her family.

“How can you be sad when this is happening?” Claire Woodall asked, watching her sons play a game of soccer with police recruits on the park’s field.

She plans for some quiet contemplation when the reality of the anniversary hits her Thursday.

She’s happy the park can serve as a place for parents to of kids at play. And for that, there’s no better reminder than the small brass plate attached to the park’s new bench and the words inscribed on it: “For Gabe and Callen.”

dlazzarino@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/SUNDaveLazz