Sask. sites named in honour of La Loche shooting victims

Two educators killed in a school shooting in La Loche are being honoured in Saskatchewan.

Adam Wood and Marie Janvier — a teacher and teacher’s aide — died while helping students and colleagues during the shooting at Dene High School on Jan. 22, 2016.

On Tuesday, the province announced two geographical features in Northern Saskatchewan have been named in their honour.

Adam Wood Memorial Landing is along a creek just east of La Loche, while Janvier Point is located on Saleski Lake, just north of the village.

Janvier’s brother, Daven, said Tuesday his family will probably go out to the point to do a memorial gathering for Marie. He added they are still healing from the loss.

“She was just like an angel in this town. Everybody knew her, she always had a smile on her face,” he said. “She was happy. She was one-of-a-kind in this town.”

Daven said his sister loved school, and she not only pushed herself — but also him — to succeed.

“My memory of her is that she was a good person and very lovable,” Daven said.

In a news release Tuesday, Education Minister Bronwyn Eyre said the namings were a small gesture of their gratitude to the two educators.

“It is our hope that everyone will know that Adam and Marie were loved, and that they will never be forgotten,” Eyre said.

In the same release, Adam is described as an avid outdoorsman who loved Northern Saskatchewan. He was a frequent visitor to what he and his friends called “the landing” — describing it as a little wooded area beside the creek that made a great place for a campfire.

The honour was made possible through the province’s GeoMemorial Commemorative Naming Program.

Nominations for Janvier and Wood received community support through letters from fellow teachers, the Northern Lights School Division, the Northern Area Teachers’ Association, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation and the Ministry of Education.

La Loche is located around six hours’ drive northwest of Saskatoon.

– With files from 650 CKOM’s Celine Grimard.