Prince George, B.C. – There were hugs and tears as members of the community marked the first anniversary of the tragic explosion and fire at Lakeland Mills. It was an evening to say thank you, to share memories of the past, and to start thinking about the future.

 

Potted white mums that were wrapped with a Lakeland blue ribbon lined the stage, that was lit with the warming glow of candles against a backdrop of images of Lakeland employees and happier days.

 

 It was in that setting that the tragedy was relived, the  horrific night which claimed the lives of Alan Little and Glen Roche, and forever changed the lives of so many.

 

“They say time heals” said Rhonda Roche, Glen’s widow “We are still waiting for that time to come.” She told the capacity crowd in  the Civic Centre   auditorium how   Glen died just hours after he had called her to say goodnight to her and their son Mason “If we had only known those would be our last words to each other , there is so much more we would have said”.

 

She fought back tears as she told all who gathered that to many, a picture is worth a thousand words, “to us, a picture is worth a thousand memories.”   

 

Many memories were incorporated into the evening, with pictures of Al Little and Glen Roche,  the mill as it was before the blast,   the last 2×6 to go through the planer mill in August of 2012, the board which was signed by concerned members of the community, and ironically, a card offering comfort   from the students and staff of the Montessori School at Highglen Elementary. ( in photo at right) 

How could they know that on the eve of this dark anniversary, they would watch their school go up in flames.

 

Mayor Green was not in Prince George at the time of the blast, but recalls how three months earlier she had offered Prince George’s support to a 21 year old Mayor of Burns Lake ( Luke Strimbold) when the Babine Forest Products mill exploded, forever changing that community. “The very first person who called me, was Luke ( Strimbold) and he said, ‘we’re here for you and we will do whatever we can to help you, just let us know’“. Mayor Green says she felt “profoundly helpless” because she was out of town when the Lakeland Mill explosion happened. She choked back tears as she recalled the first meeting with the Lakeland employees and their families   the day after the fire. She said she watched the community come together and offered thanks to all “In the darkness of a tragedy like this, we know that the bright light is always the spirit and the love that people have for one another and that is what community is.”

 

Many of the employees are still struggling with the events of that fateful evening on April 23^rd 2012. Some  are still healing from physical and emotional scars, others are trying to recover financially.

 

Pastor Susan Scott reminded those who are still struggling with the grief, to remember the phrase “get over it” applies to things like losing at cards, bruised ego or a scraped knee. “Tears are good and useful things, as Shakespeare said, ‘to weep is to make less the depth of grief.”She offered   the opportunity of support for those who continue to struggle.

 

There was no opportunity missed to thank everyone who helped that night, and to those who continue to offer support. 

 

Sinclar Group President Greg Stewart  started his remarks by honouring   Al Little and Glen Roche, “ A tragedy like this takes seconds to occur but the consequences last for months and years.”  He praised all who were on shift that night “You have endured more loss, more emotional upheaval in the past year than most do in a lifetime. You suffered personal injury, the loss of co-workers, the loss of your jobs, and some of the certainty of purpose you once had.”  

 

The mill will be rebuilt, and Stewart delicately turned to the future “We shouldn’t close the door on the past, but I think it’s important that we turn our minds to the future. The long road to recovery is not yet over, challenges remain for all of us. First and foremost is to try and find closure in the best way that meets each of our needs.”

 

Stewart said rebuilding the mill won’t bring back Al or Glen, “nor will it heal your injuries, but it’s in the memory of Al and Glen, and all the men and women who have worked at Lakeland, that I give you my word, on behalf of myself, my family, the Anderson family, the entire Board and management of Lakeland mills, that we will continue to do everything we can in our power to keep you safe.”

 

There was no shortage of thank-yous, with   gratitude expressed for the efforts of the first responders, Northern Health, the City of P.G., the Provincial Government,   the Steelworkers, colleagues in the forestry sector, and the community of Prince George “without  the love and compassion you have shown our company and our employees, this past year would have been a much different, less bearable experience" said Stewart, " I think I speak for all of Lakeland when I say we couldn’t be more proud to call Prince George home.”