DIDSBURY - People from across Canada are finding a number of ways to honour the Humboldt Broncos players, staff and families after the tragic bus accident that claimed 16 lives on April 6. Many wore jerseys on Thursday, some communities held vigils and many residents placed sticks on their porches.
Mary-Ellen Fairbairn from Didsbury didn't even have a hockey stick but went on social media to find one so she could participate.
"I saw something online from one of my friends in Calgary," said Fairbairn. "They had a hockey stick out on the porch. A friend of theirs from the United States asked why they had a hockey stick out on your porch. The man said every time someone asks about this my wife breaks into tears. This is a tribute for the hockey players who were lost. I thought what a great thing do to: 'I want a stick too.'"
Fairbairn has a grandson who plays hockey in Calgary but she has no sticks here in Didsbury.
"I thought if someone has a stick I'd like to contribute just to show that we care too," she said. "I was devastated when I heard about the accident. It was horrible. It's a real community.
"It's just to show we care. Even someone like me who's not involved with hockey – it's a community, it's a country thing. We're all feeling their pain."
