Highway 5 is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons with another tragic story bringing our family loss to our memories and our hearts reaching out to another North Thompson family going through their own grieving process - feelings we know only too well.
I’d so love to be writing my editorial to you about joyous things because it’s the holidays. I’d love to share our huge family’s memories of times gone past and I will, I promise. But as I write on the anniversary of our nephew, Skye, niece, Courtney and their precious unborn baby boy’s anniversary of their leaving us all here on earth, I’m inspired to tell you about them both and also what their own parents and siblings experience each year, as well as the ripple effects through our close family bonds. We don’t discount the impact also on all of the children, many now adults, impacted by their loss as Skye and Courtney were teachers in our rural town of Clearwater in the interior of B.C.
Not only did they touch the lives of so many in our region, but their vibrant spirits also travelled with them and left lasting memories wherever they went together around the world working on cruise ships, of course with children and youth, a job that provided the opportunity to see so many places and make even more friends worldwide as they completed their education during the school years together at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.
They were the quintessential love story, truly. They literally lit up like shining lights – I hope that isn’t too hard to imagine because every once in a while, during our life’s journey we actually are privileged to witness this type of shining relationship. Skye and Courtney were the most memorable love story and we see them in our hearts in just that way.
Some couples experience 60-plus years together, a message shared by former mayor of Clearwater, and retired Clearwater Secondary School (CSS) teacher, John Harwood when he spoke in 2012 at the celebration of life for our ‘kids’ saying, “Skye and Courtney lived life to the fullest in such a short time together. They touched so many lives, not only in Clearwater their hometown but around the world when they were working together on cruise ships coordinating children and youth programs onboard to help pay for their university. They left more lasting memories and impacted more young lives than many of us have during longer years on earth. This should be our gift from them to us. To live life as they did to the fullest.”
I can tell you as a proud ‘Auntie’ our Skye and Courtney were amazing. Am I biased? Absolutely. Am I speaking to honour their truth and legacy? Absolutely. All of the cousins in our Buck family grew up closely together. They all counsel, communicate and celebrate each other. As parents, in honour of the lasting legacy of Mom (Eva) and Dad (Ed) Buck, we all work together to honour their memory ongoing.
Brent, Tracy, Skye’s sister, Wynter, husband Chris, and nephew Storm and fianceé Hannah, niece Symphony along with Courtney’s parents Kathy and Rick DeKelver, Courtney’s sister Rachel and family, their brother Chris and his family who are supported by all of their extended family, friends and loved ones each year during this ‘just before Christmas’ painful reminder of how dangerous Highway 5 can be.
There weren’t any no-post guardrails (the big cement barriers you see along critical parts of highway) where their car plunged off the road in blizzard conditions on that fateful night where the pullout is. As you drive that section of Highway 5 you will see three lovingly constructed white crosses overlooking the river there on the now solidly installed no-post guardrails. If those had been in place that night they would most certainly be here with us today.
As many other families in the North Thompson have sadly experienced such loss, we now call on our representatives, local, provincial and even federal to hear our collective voices, feel our grief, before anyone else we cherish is gone too soon. Please, write to your MLA, to your government officials and local representatives before it’s too late once again. Here is the contact info:
Our North Thompson riding MLA Mr Peter Milobar:
618B Tranquille Rd.
Kamloops, BC V2B 3H6
peter.milobar.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 554-5413
Our Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Mr Rob Fleming:
Room 124 Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Minister.Transportation@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 387-1978
Our Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mr Mike Farnworth:
Room 128 Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
PSSG.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 356-2178
Our Premier Mr David Eby:
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
premier@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 387-1715
