Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy: How London is showing support
Londoners are joining #PutYourSticksOut
Friday's tragic bus crash that killed 15 people in Humboldt, Sask., has triggered a national outpouring of grief.
The bus, carrying members of the Humboldt Broncos Junior A hockey team to a playoff game out of town, collided with a transport truck Friday.
London has shown its support for the team in a number of ways.
Lights at city hall, other locations turning green
Tonight we will light City Hall, AJ Tyler and the Walter J. Blackburn Memorial Fountain green in recognition of the <a href="https://twitter.com/HumboldtBroncos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HumboldtBroncos</a> tragedy that occurred in Saskatchewan. Showing our support to everyone impacted during this difficult time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/humboldtstrong?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#humboldtstrong</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ldnont?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ldnont</a>
—@CityofLdnOntStudents, teachers will wear hockey jerseys to school
The Thames Valley District School Board is encouraging teachers and students to wear their favourite hockey jersey to school on Thursday to show support for Humboldt.
<a href="https://t.co/GnH9MvyHqA">https://t.co/GnH9MvyHqA</a>
—@TVDSB#PutYourSticksOut ... it's happening here too
Our family's only stick <a href="https://t.co/7Haa9nrYEs">pic.twitter.com/7Haa9nrYEs</a>
—@MGregoryPWhat started as a text between two friends has turned into a social media phenomenon.
The #PutOutYourSticks out hashtag is trending, and people in London and surrounding communities are taking part.
Oneida atom hockey coach Keith Doxtator placed his own sticks outside his family's business on Old Trail Road.
"Tragic news in the hockey community," said Doxtator. "It really hits home."
West Londoner Leigh-Anne Fraser put a stick on her porch.
"This could be any community touched by this tragedy anywhere in Canada," she said. "It could be my kinds and it felt like the least I could do is show support."
Haskett calls for support messages, hundreds respond
On Saturday Haskett funeral homes posted a message on their website, asking people to share their messages of support. By Monday, more than 200 had responded.
Funeral home director Colin Hasket told CBC London he felt the need to respond, particularly after Lucan experienced the height of hockey joy by winning Kraft Hockeyville while Humboldt mourns 15 people.
"When we heard of the news from Humboldt, it felt like it would be the polar opposite to the same feelings we were feeling," said Haskett. "Being a tight-knit hockey community, we just wanted to reach out and express some love from across the country."
And one woman wrote a song
When Fern Pridham of St. Marys heard the tragic news from Humboldt she began writing a song.
"I think we've all experienced loss but they've experienced it times 15," she told CBC London. "And that's an overwhelming amount of grief. It touched me."
"I wanted to let people know I was thinking of them," said Pridham.