Mourners from across Manitoba and neighbouring provinces gathered to pay their respects to the RCMP officer who died last week in a car crash while on duty.

The hustle and bustle of Portage Avenue heard a moment of peace today as Constable Allan Douglas Poapst was laid to rest in a public ceremony. 

The funeral began with a procession from the RBC Convention Centre to the Bell MTS Place and featured Manitoba RCMP officers and the Winnipeg Police. Accompanying them was a combined RCMP and Winnipeg Police pipe band. Observers were watching the thirty-minute procession in the cold, but many officers who attended the event noted that they felt the weather suited the day.

"It's still hard. It's been a tough week and just hard to put into words," Constable Julie Courchene says. She is the Media Relations Officer with RCMP Manitoba and worked with Poapst for a short time.

Poapst's adoration of sports, particularly of the Winnipeg Jets and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, was a common theme throughout the morning. The funeral paid tribute to the RCMP officer's love of sports. Items on a memorial table included the Grey Cup and a Winnipeg Jets jersey. The quiet presence of Winnipeg Blue Bomber Head Coach Mike O'Shea was a fitting pairing to the stories told by Poapst's family about the officer's long-love of the team.

Over two thousand people sat in the stands of Bell MTS Place, where the night before True North Sports and Entertainment hosted a Jets game. Poapst's family recently were invited to a Winnipeg Jets game and took photos with some of the team.

"Your heart breaks even further when that discovery becomes known," Kevin Donnelly, Senior President of True North says about hosting the funeral in the same arena as Poapst's favourite hockey team. "It's an easy decision to make."

The formal RCMP funeral began with the singing of the national anthem and a prayer lead by RCMP Chaplain Raymond Cornish. The opening remarks were accompanied by numerous songs, prayers, and tributes to Poapst. 

"It's absolutely overwhelming to tell you the truth," says Constable Courchene. "I feel for his family. I know this has been a really tough time for them, and I hope they realize what an impact he had on all Canadians."

At the conclusion of the funeral, Poaspt's three daughters were presented with the Stetson that was ceremoniously placed on their father's casket during the service.