Plans for permanent memorial at site of Humboldt Broncos crash released in time for 6th anniversary

On this day six years ago,16people were killed and 13were injured in a bus crash 170 kilometres northeast of Humboldt, Sask. Many of them played hockey for the Humboldt Broncos.

Now, a committee has released a draft concept plan for a permanent memorial at the site of thetragedy.

It's a step that's been a long time coming, according to Carol Brons, whosedaughter,Dayna Brons, was killed in the tragedy. Dayna was the Humboldt Broncos' trainer and athletic therapist.

The memorial committee began its workin 2019, said Brons. It includesrepresentatives of the families of the 2017-18 Broncos team, Humboldt Broncos board members, the Humboldt Public Art committee and city council.

"We were hoping to create something in Humboldt permanently and at the crash site. Then there wasCOVID and funding kind of dropped a bit. So we thought it wasbest tofocus on the crash site," Brons said.

"COVID was a mixed blessing for me, maybe because itjust forced me to slow down some stuff."

Everything that we do in the name of the 2017-18 Broncosfamilies is meant to honour them and to thank everybody in the communities that have helped us.- Carol Brons

But the delays werefrustrating and time-consuming for members of the committee, especially since much of the planning and exchanges with government entities, rural municipalities and other stakeholders had to be done virtually.

"It was hard to, you know, keep things moving ahead, but we did," said Brons.

She's glad the concept draft plan which was announced earlier this weekis now available to the public, but saysthere's a lot more work to do now.

Phase 1of the project will be site preparation, which will involve earth-moving, along withthe creation of pathways and a sitting area. Phase 2 will be a monument that will stand near the crash site, at the intersection of highways 35 and 335, close toTisdale.

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More information about the second phase will be released before the end of 2024,the committee said.

Completion dates for the memorial are not known at this time.

Brons said the committee is set on doing everything as safely and respectfully as possible.

"This is kind of a graveyardtoo," she said of the crash site. "So you want to make sure that the people that have that feelingare happy with the outcome."

She said for her, "it is healing to be involved."

"But it will be good for my healing to alsofeel like I've accomplished something too."

Committee members are working in partnership with the provincialMinistry of Highways and Infrastructure, the Water Security Agency, the RM of Connaught, CN Railand SaskPower to "ensure the design is respectful and meaningful while meeting all safety requirements," according to a Thursday newsrelease from the City of Humboldt.

The committee is "anxious to get moving forward" with the first phase,KurtLeichtwas quoted as saying in the news release.

His son, Jacob Leicht, died in the 2018 tragedy.

"We would like to get started within the next month or so, and we invite individuals and companies interested in contributing to this phase either through financial contribution or services to assist with the earth-moving, concrete and paving work to contact us," Leichtsaid in the release.

Brons said that anyone who wants to help is encouraged toreach out to the City of Humboldt.

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Adam Herold's father, Russ Herold, speaks about his son's legacy. The family started a foundation after the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018, and each year, it offers a free three-day hockey and leadership program to children in three rural Saskatchewan communities. Applications for next season are due April 7.

"We are asking for help to complete it as much as possible," she said. "Everything that we do in the name of the 2017-18 Broncosfamilies is meant to honour them and to thank everybody in the communities that have helped us."

Brons said she hopes people take some time on the April 6 anniversary of the tragedy to remember those who died and suffered, and also think of the people in their lives that are important to them, as well asthose they miss.