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The First Survivor

Life with Canada's Deadliest Mass Shooter

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The First Survivor

Written by: Lisa Banfield, Sherri Aikenhead, Maureen Banfield
Narrated by: Lisa Banfield, Janice Banfield, Maureen Banfield
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An unflinching memoir that reframes a national tragedy and demands we reckon with the cost of ignoring intimate partner violence.

On April 18, 2020, Lisa Banfield's life shattered.

After nineteen years in a controlling and often abusive relationship, she escaped a violent assault by her partner, Gabriel Wortman–unaware he was about to carry out the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history. In The First Survivor, Banfield tells her story for the first time: of being groomed and surviving years of intimate partner violence, and of the horrific night she fled barefoot into the freezing woods as Wortman began a murderous rampage that left twenty-two people and an unborn child dead.

Told with raw honesty and courage, Banfield's memoir is more than a personal account of life with a man she tried to heal–it's a call to action. With intimate reflections and her own transformation, she exposes the failures in how society sees, supports, and judges survivors of domestic abuse.

This is a powerful story of trauma, survival, and one woman's journey reclaiming her voice and redefining her life.

©2026 Sutherland House Books (P)2026 Sutherland House Books Murder Social Sciences True Crime Survival
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I’m sure in time ,once Lisa heals we can maybe advance onto other questions ,I was elated to hear the initiatives made toward the RCMPI live in rural Alberta and know exactly what goes on and the unnecessary pain caused to communities in whole ,Gabriel suffered from social media mania ,it’s a lengthy familiarity we know very well out here ,someone /something constructed that mania
In time real questions need to be asked ,not to you but to the design itself
I was pleasantly surprised at the truth

Truth

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Ok, a paragraph repeats and the reading wasn’t 100% perfect but that doesn’t detract from the overall quality of this book, it is truly a powerful story.

Powerful Story

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Wow, the abuse the woman went through. SO many tragic victims. This book makes you listen and hear what can happen around you.

Devestating

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This disturbing yet truthful account of Lisa Banfield’s life living with a monster, paints the picture with clarity. The writing is well done and organized in a time line that helps paint the picture of the chaos of that fateful day and leading up to.

There have been Neah sayers and conspiracy theories around Lisa’s involvement, this book tells the truth with her own voice. Along with her very supportive sisters-
-Vulnerable yet strong and ready to tell all to clear up rumours and speculations.

The heartbreaking story offers hope to women living in domestic violence and also opens up the dialogue how easily someone can be manipulated in this way.

The family paid respect to the victims who lost their lives in a kind and deserving way. It is my hope that by reading this book, there will be less judgment, more understanding so healing ca begin for all people involved in this tragic incident.



It gives a chilling account of the truth and clears up any doubts or misconceptions.

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So glad I was able to listen to Lisa - the perspectives I needed to hear. All the Best

Honesty

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