TRAGEDY ON THE PRAIRIES THE HUMBOLDT BRONCOS BUS

TRAGEDY ON THE PRAIRIES: THE HUMBOLDT BRONCOS BUS CRASH Video duration – 16: 09 In April 2018, 16 people died and 13 others were injured in a bus crash at a rural intersection in Saskatchewan. The bus was carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team when it collided with a semi-trailer. Most of the dead and injured were teenagers. The crash prompted an outpouring of sympathy from people across the country, including hockey leagues, celebrities and the prime minister. We look back on the tragic events of that day and what has happened since. CREDITS News in Review is produced by CBC NEWS and curio. ca GUIDE Writer/Editor: Sean Dolan Additional editing: Michaël Elbaz VIDEO Host: Michael Serapio Senior Producer: Jordanna Lake Packaging Producer: Marie-Hélène Savard Associate Producer: Francine Laprotte Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone Visit www. curio. ca/newsinreview for an archive of all previous News In Review seasons. As a companion resource, go to www. cbc. ca/news for additional articles. CBC authorizes reproduction of material contained in this guide for educational purposes. Please identify source. News In Review is distributed by: curio. ca | CBC Media Solutions © 2018 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

VIDEO REVIEW curio. ca/newsinreview /3

BEFORE VIEWING 1. How often do you travel on a school bus, city bus or coach? Why do you travel on a bus? What tends to be your destination? Do you enjoy the experience? 2. Keep you experience of bus travel in mind as you view the video. How does the story arouse feelings of empathy or understanding within you? WHILE VIEWING 1. What does Art Lalonde think might have helped to prevent the deadly collision at the intersection in Saskatchewan? a) Traffic lights b) Lower speed limit c) Bigger stop sign d) Rumble strips 2. A Go. Fund. Me campaign was launched and raised more than $15 million for the families of the victims. TRUE or FALSE? Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview /4

3. Why will Kelsey Fiddler play an important role in the bus tragedy investigation? a) Because she witnessed the crash b) Because she was the first on the scene to help c) Because she was travelling behind the bus d) Because she was travelling behind the truck 4. Days after the crash, the coroner came to the realization that he had misidentified one of the victims and had to tell one family that their son was actually alive and another family that their son had passed away. TRUE or FALSE? 5. It took the RCMP more than a year to file charges against the driver of the truck involved in the collision. TRUE or FALSE? Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview /5

TALK PROMPTS NEW curio. ca/newsinreview /6

TALK PROMPT #1 Consider pausing the video and giving students the opportunity to talk to an elbow partner for a few minutes or use these questions as part of a class discussion. Pause the video after Olivia Stefanovich signs off from the first story, @ 00: 00 – 02: 17 1. How affected were you by the devastation of the crash? 2. Are there any dangerous intersections in your community? 3. What can be done to improve traffic safety in your community? Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview /7

TALK PROMPT #2 Pause the video after Susan Ormiston signs off from the secondstory, @ 02: 18 – 05: 35 1. How did the people of Humboldt respond to the crash? 2. How were they feeling? 3. What did they want to see happen after the crash? Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview /8

TALK PROMPT #3 Pause the video after Olivia Stefanovich signs off from the third story, @ 05: 36 to 08: 23 1. Why is Kelsey Fiddler an unsung hero of the Humboldt tragedy? 2. What did she do that showed compassion and caring in the aftermath of the crash? TALK PROMPT #4 Pause the video after Susan Ormiston signs off from the fourth story , @ 08: 24 to 10: 56 1. How did the people of Humboldt express their grief in the aftermath of the crash? 2. What stories struck you as the most impactful? Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview /9

TALK PROMPT #5 Pause the video after Olivia Stefanovich signs off from the fifth story, @ 10: 57 to 13: 19 1. How did the people of Allan, Saskatchewan, and Stony Plain, Alberta, remember Logan Schatz and Parker Tobin? 2. What impact do you think the two players had on their communities? Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 10

TALK PROMPT #6 Play the video through to the end and consider the following questions as aclass, @ 13: 20 to end 1. Why was it important to the victims’ families that charges be laid in connection with the crash? 2. Why do some people feel sorry for the semi-truck driver? Scott Thomas, father of crash victim Evan Thomas Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 11

AFTER VIEWING In early July 2018, semi-truck driver Jaskirat Singh Sidhu was charged with 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily injury in relation to the Humboldt crash. 1. Why do you think it was important for the survivors of the tragedy to see that charges were laid? 2. The accident happened in April and charges weren’t laid until July. Why do you think it took authorities so long to charge Jaskirat Singh Sidhu? 3. Truck drivers are involved in about 20 per cent of collisions on Canada’s roads every year. Many industry observers say that drivers are often undertrained, overworked and, generally, in poor health after spending hours on the road. What do you think needs to be done to ensure that Canadian truck drivers are better prepared to operate safely on the nation’s roadways? Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 12

Whether it was the unimaginable devastation of the crash, the youth of the victims, the comradery of members of a team or just plain compassion, the nation shared Humboldt’s grief.

THE STORY The Humboldt Broncos were psyching themselves up for their next playoff game against the Nipawin Hawks in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s semi-final. Their bus was heading north toward Nipawin on Highway 35 when a semi-truck crossed its path. truck driver was able to walk away. Photos from the crash scene showed the truck’s load strewn across the road and the bus, so torn apart that it was virtually unrecognizable. The ensuing collision was devastating. Sixteen people on board the bus died and the remaining thirteen were seriously injured. The semi- News reports spread rapidly — first locally, then nationally, then internationally — with one central theme: tragedy. It was clear from the start that Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash many people on board the bus had died and, as the media shared pictures of the team (one showing the entire team with their hair dyed blonde in their uniforms, smiles on all of their faces), a collective feeling curio. ca/newsinreview / 14

of shock spread across Saskatchewan, throughout Canada and around the world. And the shock was quickly followed by sadness, grief and mourning. The Humboldt Broncos story captured the hearts of Canadians. A small town of under 6 000, Humboldt, Saskatchewan, embraced everything about their hockey team. Local businesses sold Broncos’ swag, restaurants offered the players discounted food, and the town shut down for hockey games. Meanwhile, the players gave back to the community, volunteering when possible and respecting their status as a source of pride for the people of Humboldt. Whether it was the unimaginable devastation of the crash, the youth of the victims, the comradery of members of a team or just plain compassion, the nation shared Humboldt’s grief. NHL teams stood vigil at centre ice the day after the crash and wore Humboldt green ribbons Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash for the balance of the playoffs. One television reporter took to Twitter and encouraged people to leave hockey sticks on their front porch, posting a picture of a hockey stick and the caption, “Leaving it on the front porch tonight. The boys might need it… wherever they are. ” Thousands of Canadians followed the reporter’s lead. Meanwhile a Go. Fund. Me campaign, initially started to raise money for the victims’ families to pay for things like curio. ca/newsinreview / 15

hospital parking, exploded to a $15 million total that now requires a board of trustees and the supervision of the Saskatchewan court system to make sure the money is distributed properly. Finally, the NHL flew the survivors of the crash who were able to travel as well as the widow of Broncos coach Darcy Haugan to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards. Christina Haugan accepted the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award on her late husband’s behalf while 10 Humboldt Broncos looked on. The Humboldt tragedy will likely continue to resonate with Canadians for years to come. There’s something about young lives lost and the game of hockey that pulls on the heart strings of people from coast to coast. Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash The Humboldt Broncos took to the ice in August 2018 in preparation for the next hockey season. New head coach Nathan Oystrick told the media, “Right now, this is about a team moving forward, but there’s definitely a lot of things in the works to honour last year’s team and the people we lost. ” curio. ca/newsinreview / 16

TO CONSIDER Why do you think the Humboldt bus tragedy has resonated so much with Canadians? Explain your answer in 7 -10 sentences. Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 17

ACTIVITY: How tragedy can bring out the best in people A few weeks after the tragic bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos, a Canadian Press headline announced: “It’s all about the Broncos”: Kindness everywhere after bus crash kills 16 The article by Bill Graveland went on to describe the outpouring of generosity that followed the tragedy: • A Go. Fund. Me campaign raised $15 million for the victims and their families. • The local Humboldt florist was overwhelmed by requests from all over the world to send flowers to those affected. • A local hotel offered free rooms to family members of the victims who needed to travel and stay in Humboldt. • A local restaurant immediately gave time off to employees who knew the players, coaches and Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash staff killed in the crash. Employees of the restaurant chain came from the next town over to fill in while people dealt with their shock and grief. • A local business turned over the proceeds of t-shirt sales (over $300 000!) to the Humboldt Strong Community Foundation. curio. ca/newsinreview / 18

• The NHL flew 10 survivors of the crash (three were not well enough to travel) and Christina Haugan, the widow of Broncos coach Darcy Haugan, to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards in an effort to honour the survivors and grant Haugan a prestigious community service award. It’s your turn! Sometimes the only thing that people can do in the wake of a tragedy is to initiate good deeds. Conduct a simple Google search of good deeds with a search query like: “good deeds after tragedy” Compile a list of five good deeds that people have taken part in after tragic situations. Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash Be prepared to explain the appeal of that story to your classmates. Your teacher may want you to post the good deeds you found on a class Padlet (www. padlet. com). Reflection How do tragic situations bring out the best in people? curio. ca/newsinreview / 19

ACTIVITY: Attention seeking or provocative? THE TWEET Montreal-based journalist Nora Loreto drew a massive amount of (mostly negative) attention two days after the Humboldt bus tragedy when she tweeted: Loreto felt compelled to share the tweet as she watched a Go. Fund. Me campaign climb into the millions of dollars in the immediate aftermath of the crash. I’m trying to not get cynical about what is a totally devastating tragedy but the maleness, the youthfulness and the whiteness of the victims are, of course, playing a significant role. THE REACTION Later she wrote: I want justice and more for so many other grieving parents and communities. The reaction to her tweet was swift. Defenders of the killed and injured saw her statement as a pointless distraction that interfered with a nation’s overwhelming sorrow in the face of a terrible tragedy. Many of her media colleagues criticized her timing — wondering what would compel her to make a comment like that so soon after the crash. Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 20

The Toronto Sun’s Adrienne Batra wrote: If you want to address institutionalized racism, fair enough, that’s a legitimate discussion. But gratuitously smearing the members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team to do it? That’s just appalling. It must be exhausting to be so angry and aggrieved all of the time. To say nothing of pathetic. Meanwhile, the Toronto Star’s Judith Timson said that Loreto’s tweet was “insensitive, illtimed and just plain wrong. ” However, she also added: “…it’s not wrong to wish others could be mourned and cherished like these players. It’s not wrong to wish our compassion were more universal. Our humanity shines when we acknowledge other people’s tragedies and pain. Our sympathy and support can help change the world. ” The Twitterverse also heaped a mountain of criticism on Loreto — and much of it was vitriolic. While some forthrightly and thoughtfully told her she was out of line in her comments, others threatened her with death and rape. Many of her critics wrote aggressive, sexually charged and derogatory tweets, casting mindless aspersions on who they Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 21

think she is as a person. These attacks prompted many of Loreto’s media colleagues to come to her defence, noting that, despite her provocative Twitter comment, she didn’t deserve to be attacked the way she was attacked. Perhaps it would have been better for Loreto to have given people more time to grieve before she took to Twitter. Some feel she should not have made the comments at all, claiming that there is a time and place for social justice commentary and that two days after a horrendous tragedy is clearly not it. The word vitriol refers to cruel, nasty and bitter criticism. Why was some of the criticism aimed at Nora Loreto considered vitriolic? REFLECTION What do you think? Did Loreto’s tweet constitute a grab at attention or provide a provocative discussion point about who we choose to grieve? Please answer the question in a 200 -300 word reflection. Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 22

SOURCES Batra, Adrienne. (April 11, 2018). Social justice warrior misses the boat on Humboldt. Toronto Sun. Retrieved from: https: //torontosun. com/opinion/columnists/batra-social-justice-warrior-misses-the-boat-on-humboldt. Campbell, Meagan. (April 7, 2018). How the Humboldt Broncos bus crash changes a hockey town. Maclean’s. Retrieved from: www. macleans. ca/news/canada/its-not-about-the-hockey-anymore-how-the-humboldt-bronco-bus-crash-changes-a-hockey-town/. Graveland, Bill. (April 15, 2018). ‘It's all about the Broncos: ’ Kindness everywhere after bus crash kills 16. The Canadian Press. Rollmann, Hans. (April 13, 2018). Humboldt Broncos, Nora Loreto, and the difficult questions that come with grief. The Independent (Newfoundland Labrador). Timson, Judith. (April 12, 2018). Why do certain tragedies, like Humboldt, resonate? Toronto Star. Retrieved from: www. thestar. com/life/opinion/2018/04/10/why-do-certain-tragedies-like-humboldt-resonate. html. Tragedy on the Prairies: The Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash curio. ca/newsinreview / 23