B.C. man carves pumpkins to honour fallen Abbotsford officer, Humboldt Broncos
Posted October 31, 2018 8:13 pm.
Last Updated October 31, 2018 8:20 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – Pumpkin carving is a typical Halloween tradition, but for one Abbotsford man, it was an opportunity to pay tribute.
Rick Chong has been carving pumpkins and displaying them outside his home for the last 17 years, but this time, he wanted to use the opportunity to honour fallen Abbotsford officer Cst. John Davidson and the Humboldt Broncos.
“You know it hurt, there are certain events sometimes that they really really hurt,” Chong said. “There’s nothing I can do but you know what, the best thing I can do is do a tribute pumpkin for them.”
Chong taught himself how to carve by looking at tutorials online. Since then, he takes a week off work and carves about multiple pumpkins which he then put outside his home for neighbours to see.
This year’s display outside Rick Chong’s home. (Rick Chong)
He said Cst. Davidson’s death hit close to home.
“It hurt, what happened to him and as soon as I heard that, my first thought was next year I’m doing a pumpkin of him.”
The Humboldt Broncos incident also shook him to the core, Chong said.
“The accident that happened with the Broncos was devastating for the entire country, and around the world.”
He said even though it was a very emotional process, he said it also brought him a lot of joy to know he was helping to keep the memory alive.
Watch Chong’s display:
He said people are welcome to visit his home at 3087 Immel St. to view his creations in person.
“I spend so much time doing them, so it’s just nice to have people come and view my work and like I said, this year, those two are big news.”
