Saskatoon piano teacher dies in Kelowna triathlon

A well-known piano instructor from Saskatoon hasdied while participating in a triathlon over the weekend.

A Facebook post from her son indicated that Noreen Wensley, 57, was pulled from a pool while taking part in the Cherry Blossom Triathlon in Kelowna, B.C. According to her son's post, Wensley went into cardiac arrest during the event and could not be revived by life guards and paramedics.

According to a press release from the Kelowna RCMP, a 57-year-old woman was pulled from the water by life guards shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday. She was rushed from the facility to Kelowna General Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

• Triathlete drowns during Kelowna event, says RCMP

The Saskatchewan Music Teachers' Association and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra have also posted about Wensley's death on social media.

Janice Braden of Saskatoon has a daughter who was one of Wensley's piano students. She remembers Wensley as a "larger than life personality" on the local arts scene who will be missed by her students.

"She wanted her students to not just be piano players," Braden said. "She wanted them to love the arts, and love performing."

She also remembered Wensley as having long lasting bonds with her students.

"Noreen had students who had been with her five, 10, even 15 years," Braden said. "This wasn't just a one-year teacher in these kids' lives, this was a long relationship with many of these children and many of the families."