Deny murderer parole

Photo: Contributed

Members of the Johnson and Bentley family.

Seven years ago I hand delivered a petition from more than 15,000 concerned Okanagan citizens (15,258 to be exact) to former Conservative Justice Minister Steven Blaney opposing the parole release of David Ennis.

Ennis, formerly David Shearing, is the mass murderer who brutally took the lives of the West Kelowna Johnson and Bentley families of six, who were on a camping trip in August 1982.

While this horrific and tragic act took place close to 40 years ago, Mr. Ennis may be again coming before the parole board in July.

This painful event once again haunts the family and friends of the victims. One of these family friends is West Kelowna resident Tammy Arishenkoff, who was a classmate of the Johnson girls.

Over the past decades, whenever Mr. Ennis has been before the parole board, Tammy has dutifully collected a petition from the thousands of citizens opposed to his release.

I would like to sincerely thank Tammy Arishenkoff for her efforts and also to recognize the many citizens who have participated in this petition process.

We must always remember the victims in acts of deplorable and senseless violence.

With the potential parole board hearing for Mr. Ennis in July of this year, Tammy Arishenkoff is once again leading the petition charge to gather together citizens opposed to his parole.

The petition is located here.

My question this week:

• Will you sign this petition?

I can be reached at [email protected] or toll free 1-800-665-8711.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.