CARBERRY — Premier Wab Kinew described the first responders who acted heroically during Manitoba’s deadliest bus crash on June 15, 2023, as “the best of us” during a memorial ceremony held Sunday in Carberry’s Day Lily Park.
In his remarks at the unveiling of a monument at the Day Lily Garden, Kinew highlighted 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.
Considered the deadliest crash in Manitoba history, 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.
The Carberry memorial service was held in honour of the first responders who responded to the scene of the collision, the 17 seniors from Dauphin who died as a result of the crash and eight others who were injured in the incident.
The Carberry service drew more than 220 attendees, including 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’ family and friends.
A similar monument was unveiled on June 15 at the CN Park in Dauphin to commemorate the victims and survivors of the crash.
Patrick Furkalo, who spoke on behalf of the victims’ families, expressed deep gratitude towards the first responders.
“We thank you, the first responders, whether on the ground or in the air, that brought such professionalism and caring,” he said. “We also acknowledged the broader community’s support, which made it easier for families to cope with the tragedy.”
Chris Arthur, a local firefighter also present at the crash scene, paid tribute to his colleagues, calling them “everyday heroes” who acted selflessly in the face of unimaginable circumstances.
“They weren’t even called to duty, yet the everyday heroes showed up and did everything they could,” he said.
Carberry Mayor Raymond Muirhead said the town “cannot overstate the thanks we have for these people and their efforts that day.”
Muirhead, who attended the ceremony alongside several members of the Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire Department, noted that the memorial serves as both a tribute to the lives lost and to the first responders who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the accident.
— Brandon Sun
