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COLUMN: Collective expressions of grief and sorrow

Two recent tragedies, one in Summerland and one in Saskatchewan, both resulted in outpourings of sympathy and compassion.
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Two recent tragedies, one in Summerland and one in Saskatchewan, both resulted in outpourings of sympathy and compassion.

Last Thursday, students and teachers at Summerland Secondary School drew hearts on their hands as a way to pay tribute in memory of Tyson Gosselin, a 15-year-old student who died suddenly earlier this month.

Those who displayed the hearts were not only his close friends, but others at the school as well.

And others in the community, not connected with the school, also had hearts on their hands as a sign of sympathy.

Not all knew Gosselin, but the entire community has been touched by his sudden death.

The gesture came at the same time as people across Canada were honouring the 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey club who died following a bus crash earlier this month.

Some set out hockey sticks beside their front doors. Some wore hockey jerseys during the day on Thursday. Some have place flowers or written words of sympathy to the families and friends of the victims. Some have donated money.

The donations have already topped $10 million.

While few of us knew those who died in the Humboldt bus accident, the tragedy has touched many Canadians.

Often, the sudden death of a young person results in huge shows of support and expressions of grief. Even those who did not know the person are affected and wish to show sympathy.

That’s why a recent tweet by social activist and freelance writer Nora Loreto last week came as a shock.

“I’m trying not to get cynical about what is a totally devastating tragedy, but the maleness, the youthfulness and the whiteness of the victims are, of course playing a significant role.”

The tweet was posted on April 8, just days after the bus crash.

It’s a puzzling statement.

Was Loreto suggesting the outpourings of grief and sympathy following the tragedy in Saskatchewan happened only because the majority of the victims were young white males? Would the response have been different had the victims been older women or members of a minority group instead?

And if so, was Loreto suggesting it was inappropriate for people across the country to mourn the deaths following the Humboldt Broncos crash?

Her comment is shocking because of its bluntness, but later that same day, she posted a follow-up statement.

“I don’t want less for the families and survivors of this tragedy. I want justice and more for so many other grieving parents and communities.”

Many would likely share this sentiment.

There are other parents and communities, across Canada and around the world, who need justice and support. Their needs are immediate and must not be overlooked or ignored.

However, using a tragedy such as the one in Saskatchewan to bring up discussions about unrelated social justice issues is not an appropriate response.

It is important to provide help to those in need and support for those who have been marginalized or forgotten. On this point, most if not all would agree with Loreto.

But it is also important to grieve when a significant tragedy or the sudden death of one or more young people occurs — even when we do not know the victims personally.

The demonstrations of support for Gosselin and the many tributes shown to the members of the Humboldt Broncos are ways we, as a community and as a nation, are able to mourn after a sudden tragedy.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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