These staff members at Northport Elementary were among those at the school showing their support for the community of Humbolt, Saskatchewan by taking part in #JerseyDay April 12. Photo submitted.
Hub Staff
In the days since the April 6 tragedy when a bus carrying a Junior A men’s hockey team, the Humboldt Broncos from Humboldt, Saskatchewan collided with a transport truck, killing several of the occupants and injuring others, citizens and hockey communities across the country have rallied in a way that has rarely, if ever, been seen.
By April 12, of the 29 occupants who were onboard at the time of the crash, the death toll had risen to 16, including players, the driver, coaching and support staff, and volunteers; and at the time of publishing a GoFundMe account in support of the victims’ families had risen to over $9.9 million, the largest ever GoFundMe account in Canada with over 117,000 contributors.
The driver of the transport truck was uninjured.
Since stories began to break following the crash and on the days since, countless news outlets and social media feeds have been flooded with images of hockey sticks, heart wrenching accounts, and words of encouragement, often accompanied by the hashtag #HumboldtStrong.
As part of the organic evolution of a country rallying around a town trying to assemble the pieces that remain following what is for many an unimaginable tragedy, April 12 was deemed #JerseyDay.
People of Saugeen Shores, students and staff of local schools; staff, managers and owners at local businesses; and members of community organizations stepped up and donned their favourite team jerseys in support of the prairie team.
These students from Northport Elementary were among the school’s staff and students to show their support for #JerseyDay April 12. Photo submitted.
Gord Lamont, owner of Gord’s Imprints & Design and President of the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks, outside his Port Elgin shop located at 685 Goderich St., sporting a Winterhawks jersey. Saugeen Shores Minor Hockey has left a donation jar at Gord’s for anyone wishing to make a donation to Humboldt.
GC Huston Public School, another school in Saugeen Shores taking part in #JerseyDay in support of the Humboldt Broncos from Humboldt, Saskatchewan.
Staff and management at Rowland’s Independent in Port Elgin donned jerseys in solidarity April 12. Photo submitted.
Meranda Kewageshig was working the McDonald’s drive-thru in her hockey jersey in support of the Humboldt Broncos #JerseyDay April 12.
Edith Sinclair of Square Deal Neil’s in Southampton wore a Tara Cyclones jersey to show her support for the Junior A men’s hockey team from Humboldt, Saskatchewan.
Staff at TD Canada Trust in Port Elgin showed their solidarity April 12 by donning sports jerseys and displaying hashtags.
Staff at the Town of Saugeen Shores donned hockey jerseys in support of #JerseyDay April 12.
From left, Dan Egan, Nancy MacLeod and Tanya Coltman from Miller Insurance in Port Elgin in solidarity with the Humboldt Broncos April 12.
Jenn and Curt Virtue with their daughter Sophie showed their support for #JerseyDay in downtown Port Elgin April 12.
On the left, a line of hockey sticks rests against the wall outside Saugeen Shores Family Eye Care April 12. On the right, the iconic dog outside of Southampton Pet Hospital displayed the message, “Remember Humboldt” on his sign for passersby.
Mike Mowbray (centre) and staff at Mowbray's Canadian Tire in Port Elgin showed their support for the Humboldt Broncos April 12. Photo submitted.
