Plans for permanent memorial at site of Humboldt Broncos crash released in time for 6th anniversary

On this day six years ago, 16 people were killed and 13 were injured in a bus crash 170 kilometres northeast of Humboldt, Sask. Many of them played hockey for the Humboldt Broncos. 

Now, a committee has released a draft concept plan for a permanent memorial at the site of the tragedy.

It's a step that's been a long time coming, according to Carol Brons, whose daughter, Dayna Brons, was killed in the tragedy. Dayna was the Humboldt Broncos' trainer and athletic therapist.

The memorial committee began its work in 2019, said Brons. It includes representatives of the families of the 2017-18 Broncos team, Humboldt Broncos board members, the Humboldt Public Art committee and city council. 

"We were hoping to create something in Humboldt permanently and at the crash site. Then there was COVID and funding kind of dropped a bit. So we thought it was best to focus on the crash site," Brons said. 

"COVID was a mixed blessing for me, maybe because it just forced me to slow down some stuff."

But the delays were frustrating and time-consuming for members of the committee, especially since much of the planning and exchanges with government entities, rural municipalities and other stakeholders had to be done virtually. 

"It was hard to, you know, keep things moving ahead, but we did," said Brons.

She's glad the concept draft plan — which was announced earlier this week — is now available to the public, but says there's a lot more work to do now.

Phase 1 of the project will be site preparation, which will involve earth-moving, along with the creation of pathways and a sitting area. Phase 2 will be a monument that will stand near the crash site, at the intersection of highways 35 and 335, close to Tisdale. 

WATCH | Humboldt Broncos bus