Carberry unveils memorial for bus crash victims

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CARBERRY – The town of Carberry came together Sunday afternoon to unveil a memorial at the Day Lily Garden in honour of the 17 victims, survivors, and first responders of Manitoba’s deadliest bus crash.

The collision occurred at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5, just north of Carberry, on June 15, 2023. RCMP previously said a minibus was headed south when it crossed into the path of an eastbound semi-trailer with the right of way.

A similar monument was unveiled at CN Park in Dauphin last June to honour the victims and survivors.

Sunday’s memorial service in Carberry drew over 220 attendees, including Premier Wab Kinew, Carberry Mayor Raymond Muirhead, Dauphin Reeve Ernie Sirski, Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire Chief Keith Loney, Carberry deputy fire chief Grady Stephenson, Brandon Fire & Emergency Services Chief Terry Parlow, members of the Carberry Ministerial Association, various dignitaries and first responders and their family and friends.

Muirhead said the ceremony marked over a year since the tragic collision that altered the communities of Carberry, Dauphin, and beyond. He extended a special acknowledgment to the first responders and emergency personnel who played a critical role on that fateful day.

“We as a community cannot overstate the thanks we have for these people and their efforts that day,” Muirhead said.

The monument, funded and organized by the victims’ families with support from various organizations and individuals, features 17 trees planted in the park, symbolizing each life lost.

Muirhead emphasized the significance of the site as a place for reflection and remembrance, inviting future visitors to pause and honour the memories of those affected by the tragedy.

Kinew described the first responders who acted during Manitoba’s deadliest bus crash on June 15, 2023, as ‘the best of us’.

In his remarks at the unveiling of a monument, Kinew praised the bravery and dedication of those who were first on the scene.

“We will remember those whose valour and heroism helped to embody the best of us and to ensure that those who did survive could find a path toward healing,” Kinew said. “When we think of the first responders and how you all stepped up and answered the call and in a moment of challenge or a moment of danger go towards the crisis instead of running away.”

Kinew said the provincial government remains committed to ongoing support for their mental health.

Loney, whose department was among the first on the scene, commended the bravery and professionalism of all emergency personnel involved.

“Your actions undoubtedly made a profound difference, and for that, we are extremely grateful,” Loney said.

Patrick Furkalo, spokesperson of the families of the victims, spoke with deep emotion and gratitude. Furkalo, who lost his mother, Margaret, in the incident, lauded the overwhelming support they received during and after the tragedy.

“My mom did survive the crash for an extra five days, and so we did get a chance to say goodbye to her, which we’re so thankful for,” Furkalo said, reflecting on the personal loss his family endured.

“Each day is a little bit different. You try not to let your mind wander back to that day, but when you hear about something on the news, you go back to what happened and you feel for those people.”

He further highlighted the importance of community connections, with families and survivors staying in touch through group chats and periodic meet-ups, offering each other strength and comfort.

Lavonne Tyschinski, one of the organizers of the Carberry memorial, shared the profound impact the event has had on her healing process.

Tyschinski, who lost her mother Shirley Novalkowski in the accident, told the Sun the memorial idea began with two members of their group who initially wanted to place a memorial bench in town.

“From there, the project grew with support from the community, the province, and various organizations, including the RM of Dauphin and the Dauphin Firefighters Association,” she said. “We did the one in Dauphin, and now this one is a tribute to the first responders for Carberry and the surrounding area and any of the agencies that came.”

Reflecting on her healing journey, Tyschinski described the process of planning the memorials as therapeutic.

“It was very therapeutic. Speaking with the others in my group, we all had … an environment where we could just discuss whatever we were thinking without any judgment,” she shared. The group, she added, included members who had different experiences from the tragedy — some whose loved ones survived for a short time after the crash, and others who, like Tyschinski, lost their family members on that day.

Tyschinski expressed deep gratitude towards the Carberry community for their support and empathy.

“They were strangers, helping strangers, and their lives changed forever as well,” she said.

Deputy Reeve Dallis Olmsted of North Cypress Langford, representing the municipality, expressed hope for positive changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Kinew told the Sun the provincial government is committed to the ongoing consultations regarding making the highway safer, stating:

“Our government is committed to doing the safest thing when it comes to remaking the intersection, and so we’ve had those community consultations, they’ve been very well attended by people here and in surrounding areas,” he said. “It’s important that we get local feedback. While the engineers and other experts are going to be able to tell us what they think the safest design is, we’ve got to consider the people who are going to be using this intersection the most.”

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