Prince George, B.C. – About 80 people attended a special memorial service for the three men who died or are missing and presumed to have died in the Columbus Hotel fire.

 

On a table in the centre of the room,  three candles, photos of two of the victims and the coffee cup that was favoured by one.

 

The friends of 58 year old Reginald Alwin Claude White , 67 year old Joseph James Arthur Delere, also known as “JJ”, and 50 year old William Bernard Peterson, known as “Bill”, gathered at the St. Vincent DePaul site on Second avenue this morning to honour their friends.

Across the street, the burned out shell of the Columbus Hotel was in plain view as friends talked about the lives of the three. They talked about music, of the smiles, of the friendship. 

 

They also talked about their own pain as they watched the Columbus go up in flames, not knowing if all had been able to get out in time, and of feeling helpless. “It was the most horrible nightmare” said one woman.

 

With prayers and song, those in attendance honoured the three.

 

One man stood and started to play the guitar, a tune he had learned this morning because it was one of Bill’s favourites “He could play it much better than this” he said.

 

“Some people pass through our lives and leave nothing, others pass through and leave a scent, and some pass through our lives and leave footprints on our hearts, that was JJ, who had such a wonderful smile” said one woman.