A memorial service was held Friday night at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in downtown St. John's. (John Gushue/CBC) Hundreds of people gathered at a memorial service in St. John's, N.L., at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Friday to mark the anniversary of a helicopter crash that killed 17 offshore oil industry workers.
Both pilots and 15 passengers died when Cougar Flight 491 crashed into the ocean 55 kilometres southeast of St. John's on March 12, 2009. Only one man survived.
The Sikorsky S-92 helicopter was ferrying workers to offshore oil platforms east of Newfoundland.
"We've come to pray with the family, friends and relatives of those who lost their lives a year ago today ... It's with heavy hearts and a great sense of loss that we've come together," the basilica's pastor, Rev. Charles Kelly, told the interfaith service.
"We gather to find comfort, strength and solace in our faith, in our community, in our family and with our God."
The service was marked by a moment of silence and a ceremony that involved the lighting of candles as the name of each victim was read aloud.
In a statement, Premier Danny Williams called it a "profound tragedy" that shook the province and changed countless lives.
Williams said his thoughts were with the families "who continue to mourn the unimaginable loss they experienced on this day one year ago."
Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who is also the regional minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, extended his sympathies on the anniversary of the tragedy.
"A year has passed already, but the feelings of shock and grief we experienced at first news of the tragedy remain fresh in our hearts," he said in a statement.
Earlier Friday, relatives of passengers who died on the flight spoke with CBC News outside the St. John's headquarters of Cougar Helicopters, where they gathered to remember their loved ones.
"It breaks my heart to have to come here in memory of my father because I shouldn't have to do it. He should still be here with me," said Burch Nash's daughter Alicia. "He was a very loving and amazing man."
Nash disagreed with Cougar's decision to fly workers to offshore platforms on the anniversary of the crash.
"For them to be having a flight like this today on the day that everything happened is actually unreal. I can't believe they would do that," said Nash. "I still have anger and I'm definitely not ready to forgive anytime soon."
Gerald Lodge was also at the Cougar facility in St. John's to leave flowers at a fence to remember nephew John Pelley.
"It's just a terrible feeling. We still feel for the people on [the helicopters] and we know they still have fears and concerns, but hopefully, that'll be fixed."
With files from The Canadian Press
