Residents to honour victims of tragedy

Community to unveil monument paying tribute to 17 seniors who died in fiery collision last year

- STEVE LAMBERT

The year that has passed since a bus crash killed 17 seniors headed to a Manitoba casino on a bright latespring day has been one of grief, community support, a slow return to normal and, for some, a long road to recovery.

It has also left unanswered questions about the genesis of the horrific crash that left the bus in flames, debris strewn in all directions and first responders dealing with a chaotic scene of death of injury.

Dauphin, a city of 8,000 residents in western Manitoba, is a place where almost everyone knows everyone. Most know someone who was killed or injured in the crash or someone related to a victim.

On Saturday, the anniversary of the crash, residents are to unveil a monument to the lives lost.

“June 15 will be forever embedded in the minds of most of our community,” Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak said in an interview.

“It’s like Sept. 11. People remember what they were doing that day.”

Don Stokotelny is among those connected to the tragedy.

His mother, Josephine Stokotelny, 86, was severely injured in the crash and has spent the last year recovering. She suffered brain damage, uses a walker to get around and is in assisted living.