Edmonton elementary school unveils buddy benches in tribute to students who recently died
An Edmonton elementary school is paying tribute to students who died this year.
Three children who attended Crawford Plains have died in the past year, and two buddy benches in their honour were unveiled Saturday.
"Last year was certainly a tragic year for Crawford plains," said the school's former principal, Lisa Nachtigal.
"But it really gave us the opportunity to come together as a whole school community and rally around each other, pull together as a family and support one another."
Buddy benches are a way for people to connect and find friendship. Sitting on one signals to other people that you're wanting someone to talk to or play with, Nachtigal said.
"We thought it was a perfect way to honour our friends that were always wanting to be everybody else's friend," she added.
One bench is engraved with the names of grade 1 students Karter and Lucas.
"They'd been best friends since [before] they were even in school and just tragic events this year, where we lost both of them, we want to keep them together and we want to celebrate that friendship that they had," Nachtigal said.
Six-year-old Karter Bourgeault died in July, after a nearly year-long battle with an inoperable brain tumour.
- Oilers superfan awaiting clinical trial screening to help treat inoperable brain cancer
- 'It hurt all over again': Family desperate for options after son rejected from clinical cancer trial
- 'I hope he can feel better': Edmonton students raise $10K to support classmate with cancer
Karter's parents launched an annual memorial ride in their son's honour Saturday, starting at the school where his bench was unveiled.
"He fought hard. He wanted to bring awareness to this so nobody else had to go through it, so we're going to keep that going for him," said Karter's mom, Nicole Fraser.
The second bench is engraved with the name Jayden. The grade 6 student and his mother were stabbed and killed outside the school in May.
- 'It doesn't feel real': Funeral held in Edmonton for mother, child killed in stabbing
- Deaths of mother, child outside Edmonton school deemed homicides: police
"I'm so so proud of the students at our school. We've gone through some of the hardest things life has thrown at you, and they just kept showing up," said Lisa Nachtigal, former Crawford Plains principal.
"We're recognizing them and how important they were to the school, the kids, all of us, the community," said Karter's mom.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
Miller scores late as Canucks grind out 3-2 win over Oilers in Game 5
J.T. Miller scored in the final minute of the game and the Vancouver Canucks came back for a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series Thursday.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
Police issue Canada-wide warrant for Regina homicide suspect
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in a homicide which occurred in Regina on May 12.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.