Local organizations in Lloydminster are raising funds, residents are leaving their hockey sticks out on their front steps and students are wearing jerseys, all in an effort to support the victims of the Humboldt bus crash.
A Humboldt Broncos Benefit Poker Tournament is being hosted by the Border City Optimist Club on Friday, where all the proceeds raised will go to Humboldt. Member of the Border City Optimist Club Martin Boser says that hockey is a big part of the Lloydminster community and that this tragedy could of happened to anyone.
“I think because so many people played minor hockey, traveled by bus all over Saskatchewan and Alberta perhaps all of Canada and beyond, that people have reflected on what has happened and thought that it could just as easily have been them involved or perhaps their families or friends.”
Pure Vibe Studios will be hosting a yoga class for the Broncos on Sunday, where people can donate at the door. Yoga Instructor Lindsay Saville says that a lot of their clientele wanted to do something to support the people effected by the fatal crash.
“I think the biggest thing is hoping that everybody comes together and the ripple effect from that, trying to bring something maybe a little bit positive out of something so horrible as well.”
Proceeds from the 2018 EMS Hockey Tournament taking place in Lloydminster over the weekend will also go towards Humboldt. Kristin Beriault from WPD Ambulance says that the tragedy hit close to home for them because they are first reposnders as EMS.
“In going to those kinds of scenes, you can never really prepare yourself for that and it has a lasting effect on these guys. It’s something that they know can happen, but you can never really prepare enough for.”
The death toll from the crash has risen to 16, after athletic therapist Dayna Brons died in hospital Wednesday. The GoFundMe page set up for the Humboldt Broncos has raised over $9.5 million.