Hope got into the spirit of jersey day for Humboldt, an initiative started by a group of B.C. hockey moms after a tragic bus accident claimed 16 lives in rural Saskatchewan.
The April 6 crash between a semi-truck and a bus carrying Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team the Humboldt Broncos killed 14, two more have since died in hospital. After the tragedy a group of hockey moms, led by Jennifer Pinch, came up with jersey day as a way to show their support and help youth in their grief over the accident.
Hope residents showed their support by donning jerseys and sharing photos online with the hashtag #jerseysforhumboldt and #jerseydayforhumboldt.
#jerseysforhumboldt Remembering the players & families impacted by this tragedy. Flags lowered to half-mast at all schools in SD78 in respect of the #HumboldtBroncos @hopesecondary pic.twitter.com/6dOqoDlmPn
— School District 78 (@sd78bc) April 12, 2018
The latest show of support comes after more tragic news, announced April 11, that a sixteenth member of the hockey team had died in hospital. Dayna Brons, 25, was a trainer for the Broncos hockey team. The first funeral of the 16 killed was held today, for play-by-play announcer Tyler Bieber, and two funerals are scheduled for Friday.
#jerseysforhumboldt cbc #JerseyforHumboldt pic.twitter.com/WDcV6B1U8Z
— Hope SAR (@hopesar1) April 12, 2018
Fire chief Tom DeSorcy wasn’t in town on the day, but he still managed to don a jersey together with fire chiefs of B.C.
FCABC Career Chiefs supporting #JerseysForHumboldt @DeltaOceanPoint in #Victoria today. #humboltstrong @CMclenan @CdnFireChiefs @globalnews @Karen_Fry @FireChiefReid @ChiefJosephson @HopeFireDept pic.twitter.com/N9clQPHXzY
— FCABC (@BCFireChiefs) April 12, 2018
Even members of the local newsroom got into the spirit, wearing some pretty classic jerseys with ties to Hope.
Cutest couple ever, one of whom (wearing Sharrers’ jersey) happens to be my colleague. #jerseydayforhumboldt #humboldtstrong #HopeBC #communitynews pic.twitter.com/IZZCtjzLWX
— Emelie Peacock (@emelie_writes) April 12, 2018
Canadians donning jerseys across the country is the latest in a massive show of support for the victims and survivors of the tragic crash. A Go Fund Me campaign for the families of the victims has become one of the most successful campaigns on the site, raising $9.73 million by 116, 195 donors in less than a week. Doughnuts with the team’s colours — green and yellow — have been sold at Tim Hortons franchises across Saskatchewan.
Are you wearing a jersey today? Send us a photo to news@hopestandard.com and we will add it to this story.
