The grieving family of Gordon and Amber Bjorkman of Merritt, who lost their lives in a head-on collision on Highway 5 on Dec. 2, are speaking out about the tragic loss of their beloved parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
B次元官网网址淢y wife Keli and I have good moments remembering them, and then something sets us off and the tears start,B次元官网网址� Gordon and AmberB次元官网网址檚 son Dave Bjorkman said in an interview with Black Press on Dec. 7.
The vehicle in which his parents were driving collided with a commercial vehicle while the couple was travelling to Clearwater to visit their grown children.
B次元官网网址淚 was out on the highway, and I tried to get in touch with my parents to tell them the road was closed due to an accident, and ultimately found out it was them.B次元官网网址�
Cpl. Mike Moore, media relations with BC Highway Patrol, said the collision took place at about 10:45 a.m. in the northbound lane. B次元官网网址淭he initial investigation points to the commercial vehicle entering the oncoming lane, where it struck the oncoming car,B次元官网网址� he said.
The couple was pronounced dead at the scene. Moore said that the investigation is now B次元官网网址渇ocusing on the driving behaviour of the commercial truck leading up to the crash.B次元官网网址�
Dave is a foreman for BC Hydro based in Clearwater. A certified journeyman lineman, he has years of experience as a Class 1 driver, and was out on a work-related call not far from where the crash took place that same day.
B次元官网网址淚 spend lots of my time on the highway with hydro. IB次元官网网址檓 out there all the time and we see too much of this on this stretch of highway.
B次元官网网址淭here are so many B次元官网网址榳hat ifsB次元官网网址�. I couldB次元官网网址檝e gotten up that morning, saw it was snowing, and phoned my mom and told them not to come up during this first significant snowfall, but then again itB次元官网网址檚 my mom, who wants to come up and deliver Christmas presents. Normally they would have texted us before they left. But she didnB次元官网网址檛 text me this time, because I would have said not to come. Our family is devastated.B次元官网网址�
Dave and Keli have five grown children between them and three grandchildren, and Keli says Gordon and Amber adored their great-grandchildren. The BjorkmansB次元官网网址� daughter Carole Mahood and husband Pat live in Williams Lake. Their cousin B次元官网网址� Gordon and AmberB次元官网网址檚 niece B次元官网网址� is Lana Popham, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, who posted a loving message on social media on Dec. 7. It read in part B次元官网网址淭his news is so hard to accept and to understand. My brother Guy Mckintuck and our entire family send our cousins Dave Bjorkman and Carole Mahood and their families all of our love and support at this incredibly difficult time.B次元官网网址�
When asked about his cousin, who plays a prominent role in provincial politics, Dave replied B次元官网网址淢y cousin doesnB次元官网网址檛 want to politicize this, understandably, but IB次元官网网址檓 hoping that sheB次元官网网址檒l walk down the hall to visit the minister of transportation, Rob Fleming, to share her feelings. Maybe this will impact the government in an emotional way when itB次元官网网址檚 touched someoneB次元官网网址檚 family so deeply in their own circle and a close colleague.B次元官网网址�
Dave was a volunteer firefighter in Terrace for 15 years before moving to Clearwater. He is a dedicated Canadian Ranger and belongs to the 100 Mile House Canadian Ranger Patrol, where he often volunteers to train youth in outdoor life skills, such as survival in the bush and how to safely operate snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.
During his years as a volunteer firefighter, he experienced the after-effects of PTSD, and knows how difficult it is for first responders in the North Thompson to continually attend traumatic incidents. He is concerned that the high volume of fatals they must debrief from will eventually result in the same impact it had on him when serving.
B次元官网网址淚 know firsthand what they are going through. We are so thankful for them, but I worry for their emotional well-being. IB次元官网网址檝e been there.B次元官网网址�
In describing Gordon and Amber, their sonB次元官网网址檚 voice becomes lighter. B次元官网网址淭heir life was so large together. My dad climbed mountains starting in his teens and became a pilot, building a plane in our basement. Mom even went to ground school. He was an electrician for BC Hydro and mom worked for ICBC.
B次元官网网址淎t 81 years old Dad continued working on and off and was still a contract instructor for BC Hydro, working for a safety training company. They travelled together and loved golfing. They belonged to the Shriners, and Mom (77) was active in the Royal Purple. They were in love and lived life to the fullest. I could spend hours talking about my mom and dad, their active life, and how they loved doing new things together their whole lives.B次元官网网址�
The Bjorkmans became B次元官网网址渟nowbirdsB次元官网网址� in 2017 after buying a small vacation home in California.
B次元官网网址淣othing stopped them,B次元官网网址� said Keli fondly. B次元官网网址淭hey were amazing together. They showed up in that small quiet place and next thing you know they were organizing social gatherings and special events. They lived such full lives and would do so many fun things together, like dressing up for Saint PatrickB次元官网网址檚 Day. I can see them in my memory, Gord dressed up like a leprechaun and Amber in a beautiful green sparkling gown.
B次元官网网址淏oth of my parents are gone from dementia. We had time to prepare for that. This is so different, so sudden. We were both lost the day this happened and still are overwhelmed.B次元官网网址� Keli added that she and Dave are moved by the community members who have dropped off food, flowers, and messages, for which they are so thankful.
Dave said that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 want his parentsB次元官网网址� lives to have been lost in vain, adding that there need to be stricter regulations and follow-up in place for training commercial drivers.
B次元官网网址淭o be a commercial pilot you must be able to speak and read English, because itB次元官网网址檚 recognized internationally. ItB次元官网网址檚 a standard of training, and these drivers arenB次元官网网址檛 receiving the training. They come here as new Canadians, and it seems as though they are forced immediately into a work environment they arenB次元官网网址檛 ready for or properly trained in.
B次元官网网址淚 hope people write letters to the minister of transportation and demand change. There need to be changes in training, changes in qualifications. The way this is happening is not sustainable. We can raise our voices together by contacting our MLAs, writing to the ministry, speaking to our local officials.B次元官网网址�
Dave spoke of his sister, who is struggling to process this painful loss of both parents at once. She is a beekeeper who told the family of the old saying B次元官网网址淭ell the bees,B次元官网网址� which now carries special meaning for them all.
B次元官网网址淭elling the beesB次元官网网址� is a ceremony that calls for a beekeeper to notify their hives of a death in the family. According to tradition, bees that are B次元官网网址減ut into mourningB次元官网网址� help shepherd the dead into the afterlife, as well as reward their stewards with a generous honey harvest.
B次元官网网址淢om and Dad arenB次元官网网址檛 gone, they are here with us. We will tell the bees,B次元官网网址� said Dave.
The family is planning a special celebration of life in the spring, when it is safer to travel, to spread Amber and GordonB次元官网网址檚 ashes in the north shore area of Howe Sound, a place they both loved.
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