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Comment: A letter of thanks from a bank customer who was in the BMO branch on June 28

The magnitude of the event, followed by a lockdown two days later that started in front of my house, have left me rattled.
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First responders attend the scene of a bank robbery at the BMO bank at the 3600-block of Shelbourne Street on June 28. ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST

I was in the BMO branch on June 28. I am so very grateful and thankful to the officers who came to our rescue at a huge cost to many, either physically or mentally.

How do I tell you that you will forever be in my dreams, in my thoughts, and in my heart? I went to each barrier around the bank area the day after to say thank you.

It is not enough. I tear up as I type this. I need everyone to know how much it meant.

I will not describe what it was like before the shooting, and during.

I did not know that officers went down.

All I remember is being trapped in the vault with the cage (not vault door) closed. Feeling like a fish in a barrel. When the officers went by clearing the rooms, we were told we were safe and we’d be out soon.

When all the bank staff and customers were gathered together, we overheard a head office BMO employee on the phone asking “if there were still bodies in the parking lot?”

I had walked to the bank with my husband and he waited outside. Upon hearing the phone conversation, I rushed to the officers blocking the way to the main entrance, begging to see if my husband had been shot.

The officers assured me that he was not the one shot. I asked if it was the robbers. They said yes but no more.

They did not say that to get to us, they had to step past fallen officers. They kept moving forward, not knowing their fate. No one made any indication that anyone other than the two gunmen were down. I am grateful they kept that from us.

One of the officers even went to find my husband to let him know I was OK.

The subsequent days were emotional and they still are. Knowing that there were explosives and that officers were injured wears heavily on me.

The magnitude of the event, followed by a lockdown two days later that started in front of my house, have left me rattled.

I want to hide in the house, I want to move, I want to erase everything. But I won’t do any of that. I have to move on, be strong, be grateful, be thankful.

I have to appreciate all that I have to live for — after all, that is because of police officers and first responders.

How can I cower now when you have run to my aid, guided me to safety? For this, because of you and the job you choose to follow, I am here. I will go on. I hope you can too, knowing how much you mean to me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Lesa (the woman wearing a green sweater and a mask)