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(Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)
Humboldt Broncos bus crash

Humboldt Broncos bus crash anniversary recognition plans change due to COVID-19

Apr 6, 2020 | 8:00 AM

The City of Humboldt is still recognizing the second anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, despite the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City has announced that they and the representatives of the 2017-18 Humboldt Broncos families are preparing a dedicated page on the city’s website that will serve as a “virtual tribute” in recognition of the anniversary, amid the COVID-19 restrictions.

The site www.humboldt.ca/tribute will be live at noon on Monday.

The original plan, according to the release, was to create a “temporary special exhibit comprised of a representation of the many creative and unique memorabilia items” the city received following the tragedy.

Despite the self-isolating and physical distancing being practiced amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Rob Muench said in the release “it’s important to us that people still have a place to go to reflect and remember the tragedy and the outpouring of support that our community received on a global scale.”

Muench said having photos and videos on a dedicated “tribute web page” will help people come together and will also remind people of what happened.

The page will also feature an online guestbook for visitors to sign.

Mayor Muench has proclaimed April 6, 2020 as “2017-18 Humboldt Broncos Day” in the city, and encouraged that people in Humboldt observe a moment of silence at 4:50 p.m., the approximate time of the crash.

St. Augustine Catholic Church in Humboldt will toll their bells at the same time. The city intends to capture this on a live video feed on their Facebook page, followed by a moment of silence.

Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured when the Humboldt Broncos team bus was struck by a semi-truck hauling peat moss at the intersection of Highways 35 and 335 south of Nipawin April 6, 2018.

The Broncos were on their way to face the Nipawin Hawks in Game 5 of their SJHL semi-final series.

Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the driver of the semi, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to all 29 charges against him.

“The impact of this catastrophe will reverberate across Canada for years to come,” Judge Inez Cardinal said in court during the sentencing hearing March 22, 2019.

cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974

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