Vigil held for Happy Valley-Goose Bay mayor suffering from gunshot wound

About 250 Happy Valley-Goose Bay residents came together Tuesday night in support of their mayor, John Hickey.

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"He's done a lot for the community," said grandsonNolan Walsh.

"It made me feel kinda good knowing that he has so much support around the town."

Hickey was in the woods Saturday checkingsnareswhen his gun went off and he was shot under the chin.

He was taken to hospital inSt. John's, where he remains sedated and in critical condition after surgery.

"Well, the doctor wasn't long saying 'John Hickey is a fighter' and I thought,'You don't even know. You don't even know how much of a fighter he is,'" said stepdaughter Anna Goudie.

"He's quite a guy."

The ceremony

Candles provided by the town were lit Tuesday as a prayer was said and town councillors gave remarks.

Coun. Lori Dyson passed on thanks from Hickey's family and said the mayor is "holding his own" in St. John's.

"He's come so far as it is," she said.

Hickey has undergone one surgery so far and is expected to undergo more.