Prayer service held for Ontario van crash victims
More than $30,000 raised for crash victims so far
CBC News
Posted: Feb 10, 2012 5:15 PM ET
Last Updated: Feb 11, 2012 5:25 PM ET
A non-denominational service, organized by the diocese of London, is underway at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Stratford, Ont. (Steven D'Souza/CBC)
Related
Related Stories
- Migrant workers: Who they are, where they're coming from
- Notable fatal Canadian vehicle crashes
- Canadian road accidents involving migrant workers
- Canada's migrant farm worker system - what works and what's lacking
- Migrant farm workers in Canada
- Horrific crashes raise questions about rural road design
- Fatal Canadian vehicle crashes
The victims, survivors and first responders who were involved in the collision that killed 11 people in Hampstead, Ont., earlier this week were shown support at a prayer service in a Stratford, Ont. church.
More than 300 people attended the non-denominational service Friday evening organized by the diocese of London, CBC's Steven D'Souza reported. The altar at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was adorned with the names of the victims and survivors.
Ten migrant workers from Peru were killed and three were seriously injured when their 15-passenger van and a truck collided in a rural area near Stratford. The truck's driver, a Canadian, was also killed.
Bishop Ronald Fabbro told the crowd that the service was not for asking questions about the accident but instead about supporting those who are suffering.
Fabbro said he has been profoundly impressed with this community and the "visible signs of love" they've shown since the tragedy.
God does not ignore the tears of those who mourn the loss of a loved one, he said.
A collection was taken during the service, with proceeds going to the families of the victims.
The donations will add to what has already been an outpouring of generosity, with the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, along with the Agriculture Workers Alliance, raising $30,000 so far.
Also, a government agency will cover travel costs for one family member of each of the 13 migrant workers involved in the crash.
The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board said it was looking at each individual case to determine whether the children of the victims can also be flown to the province. The board declined a full interview, saying it wanted the focus to be on the families. It will pay for one family member of each Peruvian victim or survivor to fly to Ontario.
The WSIB had already said it would pay for the repatriation of the bodies, medical costs of the survivors and an undisclosed amount for lost wages and benefits.
WSIB spokeswoman Maura Murphy said she didn't know what the final cost would be.
With files from The Canadian PressShare Tools
Latest Ottawa News Headlines
- Kenyan runner sets new Ottawa marathon record
- Kenya's Laban Moiben set a new record Sunday for the Ottawa race weekend marathon with a time of 2:09:12. more »
- Fire causes $2M in damage at banquet centre
- The West Carleton Weddings and Banquets Centre sustained $2 million in damage early Sunday morning following a fire. more »
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned. more »
- Family, friends honour teen killed in school explosion
- Family and friends paid tribute Saturday to Eric Leighton, the 18-year-old student killed in a shop class explosion one year ago. more »
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Kenyan runner sets new Ottawa marathon record
- Para Transpo bus crashes into hydro pole, tree
- Birds attack Ottawa joggers
- Fire causes $2M in damage at banquet centre
- Family, friends honour teen killed in school explosion
- Quebec students, government to resume talks
- 4 arrested during Gatineau protest against Bill 78
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

