Members of Humboldt’s council travelled north to Nipawin and Tisdale with a message to those first responders that attended the Broncos bus collision: thank you.
Nipawin hosted a community barbeque to thank their first responders May 12, while Tisdale held theirs May 19.
“We never say thanks nearly enough to the people that look after us when we’re in trouble: the hospitals and the ambulance people, first responders, doctors, nurses,” said Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor, at the Nipawin event. “That’s what I’m going to try to do today.”
Muench said it was Rennie Harper, Nipawin’s mayor, who was one of the first people to phone him in the immediate aftermath of the April 6 collision.
“When Rennie phoned me, she said how bad it was and I think from that point our two communities have developed a bond that’s going to be hard to compare,” he said. “Their team played for the Broncos after we weren’t able to. They wore the green helmets. I think it’s brought us closer as communities.”
That day, the mayors of both communities painted green and gold hearts on their arms, signaling their bond.
“I’m kind of hoping the opening game of the SJHL season will be between Humboldt and Nipawin,” Muench said. “I can’t see two better teams to get out there and play that first game in the fall.”
A week later, Coun. Michael Behiel spoke at the Tisdale event. He said when the collision happened, his phone started ringing right away, asking what was needed.
“I think what we really needed at that time was you, the first responders, and we are extremely grateful for that because it’s what made the difference,” he told the crowd at Tisdale’s town square.
The councillor said he kept hearing the death toll go up, from two to four to six to 12 to 15. At some point, it stopped, all because of the efforts of the first responders.
“I’m certain that none of you anticipated to encounter such a horrific incident in your careers, nor did you expect to become the unsung heroes of a community and a world grasping to remain strong and find some sense to what happened, but you have become those heroes,” he said. “It is through your selfless efforts that we have been blessed to remain Humboldt strong and for that we thank you from the bottom of your hearts.”
Premier Scott Moe was also at the Tisdale event to thank the first responders.
“You are so special to us and I want to, on behalf of a very grateful province, to extend our most heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you in this community and the surrounding communities as well.”
The premier encouraged the first responders to lean on their friends and neighbours, as well as to seek professional resources, as they worked to deal with what they saw in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
