Accidents

Canada: Two First Nation Elders Killed by Car at BC Mall

Was this a day of grief, a medical tragedy or a crash raising questions on Truth and Reconciliation?

4 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

Canada: Two First Nation Elders Killed by Car at BC Mall

Story

Above: Signage for the Tsawwassen Mills mall in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada, on Feb. 8, 2017. Image credit: Ben Nelms/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

Two Tsawwassen First Nation elders were killed and two other pedestrians were injured Wednesday when a vehicle struck four people in the parking lot at the Tsawwassen Mills mall in Delta, British Columbia, police said.
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The Globe and Mail
Vancouver Sun
The collision happened at about 10:25 a.m. local time, according to the Delta Police Department, which said preliminary information indicates the driver may have experienced a medical emergency before the vehicle hit the pedestrians.
Delta Police
Police said the crash was not connected to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation walk being held on Tsawwassen First Nation lands at the same time, and that there was no ongoing risk to public safety.
Delta Police
Victoria News
The walk began at 9:30 a.m. at the Tsawwassen First Nation recreation center and was scheduled to end at the mall with the unveiling of two house posts. The remainder of the event was canceled after the collision.
Victoria News
CBC
B.C. Emergency Health Services treated the injured at the scene before transporting them to hospital. Twelve ground ambulances and two air ambulances were sent, and the driver was also treated and taken to hospital.
CBC
Global News
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the loss of "two beloved elders" was devastating, while Premier David Eby said the tragedy had "shocked and saddened us all." Delta Mayor George Harvie had joined the community for the walk.
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Victoria News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Two cherished elders lost on a day of solemn reflection is a devastating blow to Tsawwassen First Nation. A medical emergency may explain how the collision happened, but it cannot capture the grief of losing community members amid a day of remembrance. The families, injured and entire Nation deserve compassion and support as they mourn.

Mark Carney on X

David Eby on X

Narrative B

A medical emergency behind the wheel is a tragedy, not a crime, and treating it like anything else twists the truth. Rushing to tie this parking lot crash to the nearby Truth and Reconciliation walk only spreads confusion when the public needs facts. The responsible path is a careful investigation, with dash camera footage and witness accounts, before anyone assigns blame.

Delta Police

Narrative C

Police say the crash was unrelated to the Truth and Reconciliation Walk, but that may not tell the whole story. The collision occurred at Tsawwassen Mills as a separate Truth and Reconciliation event was underway, with a House Post unveiling scheduled there. At minimum, that distinction raises questions about how broadly the police's statement should be understood.

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