Clad in hockey jerseys, hundreds gathered in points across the Central Okanagan to pay tribute to the 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos killed in last week鈥檚 bus crash.
At a vigil in West 琉璃神社 and another in 琉璃神社, the names of those who died when the team bus hit a semi-trailer en route to a game in Saskatchewan last Friday were read aloud while men, women and children bowed their heads in grief and let their tears flow.
In 琉璃神社, members of the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy released green and yellow balloons into the sky, each representing a victim of the crash. Around 500 people attended the vigil at Prospera Place.
Donna Macdonell, a 琉璃神社 resident who attended the vigil in 琉璃神社, belongs to a family of hockey players.
鈥淢y husband played hockey until he was 52. We鈥檝e got a son, 46, who鈥檚 still playing hockey, his son is in minor hockey. We love hockey and of course this has just been devastating,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e are overwhelmed with loss and grief,鈥� said Rev. Don Richmond, at the second of two vigils he spoke at, before offering a prayer.
Warriors鈥� head coach and GM Rylan Ferster pointed out that the tragedy plays on all the fears of parents who put their children on buses to play sports, as well as team members themselves.
It鈥檚 something he knows all too well.
Ferster was not only born and raised in the prairie province, he played with the Broncos as a 16-year-old rookie during the 1985-86 season.
He also played three years with the Nipawin Hawks, the team the Broncos were travelling to play in an SJHL playoff game when their bus collided with a truck.
鈥淚鈥檝e been on that road many times, I know exactly where it happened,鈥� said Ferster, who was born in nearby Prince Albert, Sask.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been tough. I can鈥檛 imagine what it鈥檚 like for people back home. I know how I feel two provinces away and it鈥檚 just devastating. I鈥檝e talked to a lot of people back home and they鈥檙e reeling, some of them can鈥檛 even talk about it.鈥�
Support for those who are hurting nearby and afar is why the country banded together to grieve.
鈥淲e play together, we laugh together and we cry together,鈥� said MP Dan Albas at the West 琉璃神社 vigil for Humboldt Saskatchewan Thursday night.
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