We All Grieve with Humboldt

The deaths of 15 members of the Humboldt Broncos in a crash on Highway 35 is a national tragedy. In Saskatchewan, that tragedy is very personal.

The boys who we lost on Friday were the pride of Humboldt, but they came from across Saskatchewan and Alberta:  Logan Boulet, 21, of Lethbridge, AB; Adam Herold, 16, of Montmartre, SK; Logan Hunter, 18, of St. Albert, AB; Jaxon Joseph, 20, of Edmonton; Parker Tobin, 18, of Stony Plain, AB; Jacob Leicht, 19, of Humboldt; Conner Lukan, 21, of Slave Lake, AB; Logan Schatz, 20, of Allan, AB; Evan Thomas, 18, of Saskatoon; Stephen Wack, 21, of St. Albert, AB.

We also grieve for the others killed in the crash, men who devoted themselves to the Broncos: Tyler Bieber, 29, announcer, of Humboldt; Mark Cross, assistant coach, 27, of Strasbourg, SK; Darcy Haugan, head coach, 42, of Humboldt; Brody Hinz, stats expert, 18, of Humboldt; Glen Doerksen, bus driver, 59, of Carrot River, Sask.

Also remembered in our thoughts and prayers are the amazing first responders and the medical staff at the various hospitals. Called on in the worst of circumstances, these people show courage and strength in the face of such terrible tragedy. These are the heroes who go about their job every day not looking for glory, but wanting to help others. 

Hockey is life on the Prairies. Young children lace up skates almost as soon as they learn to walk. Sticks in hands, they learn their sport in small-town arenas and outdoor rinks. The best of them are spotted early, mentored by experts, and billeted by families who become like their own.

Those of us with children recognize that Friday’s tragedy is the worst nightmare of parents everywhere. And our kids are going to need help as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened. They will need to talk. As parents, we must encourage that and try to give them some perspective.

Here is some guidance for talking to children about tragedies, from a recent article in Today’s Parent magazine:

• Be truthful. Children need to understand what is happening around them to feel secure. Provide them with facts about what happened and acknowledge it was a terrible and frightening event. Help them to see that we share their feelings.
• Encourage questions. Let your child ask all the questions they need to ask. Sometimes a child will process a tragedy much later and come back to you again for more discussion. Remind them that questions are welcome.
• Feelings are normal. Some children may take a while to get over tragic events and that is perfectly normal. Allow them to cry if they need to and show their emotions. Share your own feelings. Remind them that they are safe and keep things in perspective.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is sending counsellors to provide support and has pledged to work with the Humboldt community as it deals with its loss and grief.

If you want to help, a GoFundMe campaign is raising funds for those affected by the tragedy. By noon Monday, over $5 million had been donated, making it Canada’s most generous GoFundMe campaign ever.

You can also show your support simply by putting a hockey stick outside your door, in a symbolic gesture that is trending across the continent after Sunday’s memorial service in Humboldt.

CLAC also recognizes that our members may be feeling the impact of this tragic accident and struggling to deal with the emotions that they may be feeling. We want you to know that we are here for you and that should you need someone to talk to you can reach out to our employee family assistance plan at 1-844-880-9142 for help.