B.C. village mourns deaths of 2 longtime residents in landslide
Barbara and David Enns, long-time residents of The Village of Lions Bay, tragically lost their lives in a devastating landslide that occurred last weekend, as reported by the town’s mayor.
The aftermath of the mudslide resulted in David’s body being discovered the day after their home was destroyed on December 14. However, it was not until December 21 that Barbara’s remains were located by the Squamish RCMP. This heartbreaking news has left the tight-knit community of Lions Bay in a state of shock and devastation.
Mayor Ken Berry expressed the profound loss felt by both the Enns family and the entire community. Search and rescue teams, including professionals from various agencies and search dogs, dedicated a full week to locating Barbara’s body. Mayor Berry expressed gratitude for the closure brought by the recovery efforts, just in time for Christmas.
The landslide not only claimed the lives of Barbara and David Enns but also caused a temporary closure of the Sea to Sky Highway during the weekend of the incident. The Village of Lions Bay, located approximately 25 minutes north of Vancouver, has a population of around 1,400 residents. The Enns couple had been residents of the village for four to five decades and were active members of a local walking and hiking group.
The community came together to mourn the loss of the Enns, with their walking and hiking group gathering for a poignant moment of remembrance. With the recovery of both bodies from the mudslide, the death toll from the severe windstorm that struck B.C.’s South Coast on December 14 has now reached three, with another individual losing their life due to a falling tree branch in Surrey, B.C.
As Environment Canada issues warnings of additional powerful storms expected to hit the south coast in the upcoming week, including a significant storm on Christmas Day, the residents of Lions Bay and surrounding areas remain on high alert. The tragedy of the Enns family serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and destructive forces of nature that can impact communities in the blink of an eye.
