Canada's premier commemorates Humboldt Broncos bus crash victims

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

Toronto, CANADA (AA) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement on Thursday, commemorating the fifth year anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos bus accident in Saskatchewan province.

“Today marks the fifth anniversary of a tragic accident that shook Canadians from coast to coast to coast. On April 6, 2018, a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team was involved in a collision with a transport truck, killing 16 team members and staff and injuring 13 others,” said Trudeau in the statement.

To remember the lives lost in the tragedy, moments of silence were observed across the country and Canada raised money for one of the most successful online fundraising campaigns in history to support the families of victims, the survivors, and the community, according to the statement.

“The Humboldt community is emblematic of what it means to be Canadian. They have shown enormous strength and resilience in the years since the tragedy, by creating scholarships and sponsorships for future generations and providing counselling services and support groups for those impacted,” said Trudeau.

To ensure such tragedies never happen again, Canada has worked to develop a national standard for entry-level training for truck drivers and improve safety features on buses and other vehicles.

Seatbelts are now also required on all new motor coaches.

“On this day, we remember the lives that were cut short by this tragedy, honour the survivors, and stand with the families and the community of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. We continue to be inspired by their strength, their determination, and their compassion. They are forever Humboldt strong,” added Trudeau.