Community of Manitoba prays for loved ones killed in bus crash

DAUPHIN, Man.—Residents of Dauphin, Man., sought comfort during Sunday church services — lighting candles, wiping away tears, and praying — as they mourned 15 community members who died in a bus crash that also left 10 seriously injured.

Father Brent Kuzyk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. George dedicated part of his liturgy to the victims of the crash.

Prayers were said for the deceased, their families and aid workers. Kuzyk also spoke of the overall suffering of the community of 8,600 people northwest of Winnipeg.

Churchgoers lit candles and sang hymns. A woman wiped the tears from her eyes with a tissue.

The first names of those on the bus were also read out.

The Ukrainian Church was one of several places of worship in Dauphin that would address the tragedy during their regular Sunday services.

Deacon Frances Stewart of St. Paul’s Anglican Church said she planned to hold a moment of silence for the departed.

This is a time to offer comfort and be compassionate as people grieve, she said.

“As Christians, we have this wonderful hope, this wonderful promise of the life to come. But at this stage, the most important thing is to just get through the first few days and then be there for the months and years to come,” Stewart said.

RCMP continued to investigate Thursday’s fiery crash between a transporter and a minibus transporting senior citizens from the Dauphin area to a casino near Carberry, Man., some 120 miles away.

Mounties have said the truck was traveling east on the Trans-Canada Highway when the minibus crossed south at an intersection.

On Friday, detectives had not yet spoken to the driver of the bus, who was in hospital with the nine other survivors. Shared Health said in a statement on Sunday that their conditions have remained the same.

Kuzyk said he had been praying with people in senior complexes for the past few days. Some of the victims lived in the facilities.

“Just being able to verbalize what they’re feeling always helps,” he said. “Because it’s such a small community, everyone knew someone on that bus or even had family on the bus.”

Gathering together, praying for those who died and then burying them is part of the healing process, he said.

“As we begin to heal, we gain strength, we begin to understand, and we can prepare our lives for the next step.”

Jeremy Simes