One year ago, the Humboldt Broncos team bus collided with a semi, changing the lives of players, family, and friends.
Hayley Kennedy, executive director of Partners Family Services, a counselling service in Humboldt, recalls her first thoughts upon hearing about the tragedy.
“It was actually via social media and my first thoughts were just immediately to how many families and our community and how they’d be impacted. It was absolutely devastating and heartbreaking.”
Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured after the Saskatchewan hockey team's bus collided with a semi driven by a novice trucker who blew through a stop sign at a rural intersection.
Kennedy says the community is committed to moving forward, but the tragedy will always be a part of their history and in their minds.
“Humboldt as itself will not be defined by the accident, any more than the Humboldt Broncos team is defined by the accident. We’ll still be a resilient community, we’ll build off some of the lessons that we’ve learned. There is a path forward. We’ll never be the same as we were April 5th. It will be different but we’ll still be a strong community.”
Organizers of a vigil are expecting about three-thousand people to attend today's memorial marking the first anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy. A moment of silence will be held at the exact time of the deadly crash, 4:50 pm.
Kennedy was in the 29 forever documentary of the tragedy.
“Since April 6th, I’ve coordinated quite a few of the mental health supports that have been available in Humboldt and area. Through my role coordinating those supports, as well as my role supporting the Humboldt Broncos team, I was approached by TSN and asked if I would be willing to share some of my thoughts on the community. How the tragedy’s impacted the community, and where we see ourselves going forth.”
The tragedy moved people across Canada and around the world to put hockey sticks on their front porches in solidarity with the Humboldt community.
RCMP Commanding officer of F Div, Asst. Commissioner Mark Fisher made a statement regarding the tragedy.
“The Humboldt Broncos Bus tragedy affected the people of Saskatchewan and any person that rode a bus or put their child in the care of others on a bus.
Within the RCMP, the collision, first response, investigation, court proceedings, and now the anniversary has impacted our employees that worked directly or indirectly to the RCMP response to the tragedy.
The number of RCMP employees that worked in this investigation would be incalculable. Close to the entire division fulfilled some role in the investigation, directly or in a support role, and I believe all were affected in one way or another.
The RCMP is acutely aware of the demands and effects such a tragedy can have on our employees and we have several emotional supports and mental health services available to our entire membership. We reflect on the past year, assess our role and what we could have done better. As we near the anniversary of this tragedy, our thoughts are of the families, the community, and all of those affected by this tragic day.”
