Mourning for Humboldt at Armley Corner

ARMLEY, Sask - On this hot summer day the wind howls through the intersection of Highway 35 and Highway 335.

When it stops there is only silence, despite the regular visits of many travellers who come from as far away as Ontario and British Columbia.

It was at this intersection, known by locals as Armley Corner and 30 kilometres south of Nipawin in northeast Saskatchewan, where one of the most devastating highway tragedies in Canadian history occurred. At about 5 p.m. on April 6 a westbound semi-trailer truck struck a northbound coach bus carrying members and support staff of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team. Sixteen lives were lost, and another 13 people were injured, including Olds resident Graysen Cameron.

The senseless deaths devastated Canadians from coast to coast and beyond. Almost immediately after the site was probed by police investigators it became a makeshift roadside memorial site, the largest in Saskatchewan’s history. Thousands of Canadians have made the site a must-see stop during their spring and summer travels.

A large green cross, with a gold HumboldtStrong inscription, stands on the west side. It overlooks rows of white crosses, each with a name of one of the fallen. In front there are scores and scores of plastic flowers, hockey sticks, stuffed animals, beer cans, skates, and many notes of condolences. Most of all though there is just silence as mourners quietly work their way through the rows, trying in vain to understand the magnitude of the tragedy, and how it could have ever happened.

It is not known how long the site will remain, but the provincial ministry of highways, out of respect for the victims' families’ grieving process, has not served any notice on how long the memorial can remain.

In the meantime, there is a growing movement to make the memorial site permanent. Last July members of the Humboldt Strong Community Foundation said they hope today's makeshift site will become a permanent memorial. Members are scheduled to meet in the fall to discuss the issue. Provincial government officials are also looking at the idea but no decisions have yet been made.

In the meantime, hundreds and hundreds of Canadians continue to stop. They place flowers, leave letters, and take a few photos. And then they leave, shaking their heads.

The semi-trailer's driver, Jaskirat Sidhu, has been charged with 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily injury.