Nine years after their tragic deaths on the decommissioned Sullivan Mine site, local paramedics Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier were honoured with a memorial on the grounds of the B.C. Legislature.

Unveiled May 6, the British Columbia Fallen Paramedics Memorial Monument will bear witness to the loss of these two heroes.

Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald attended the unveiling along with Kim’s husband George Weitzel (pictured above, left, with Norm), and Shawn’s parents Bob and Lori Currier.

Following the ceremony, Macdonald made the following statement in the Legislature:   Today, on the grounds of the BC Legislature, we attended the unveiling of a monument to honour paramedics who have died while on the job. On the monument are the names Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier who died nine years ago. They succumbed while attempting to save the lives of Bob Newcombe and Doug Erickson, who also lost their lives.

All four entered a shed on the decommissioned Sullivan Mine site in Kimberley that covered a water testing pit. The air in the shed was almost entirely devoid of oxygen, and one breath put the victims in an unconscious state.

Paramedics do a very difficult job. They rush to scenes of trauma to give comfort and ease pain. And they are often asked to go into dangerous situations.

Kim and Shawn thought they would be attending a drowning. They believed they were going to a pond, not a shed. They had no way of knowing that the conditions in that shed would cause their deaths.

The funeral held nine years ago for Kim Weitzel, Shawn Currier, Bob Newcombe and Doug Erickson was held at the Kimberley Civic Centre. Along with much of Kimberley, more than 700 paramedics, firefighters, police, military personnel and search and rescue members led a two-kilometre procession to the funeral.

Across the East Kootenay, and across the country, we mourned their loss.

I want to acknowledge the work of the paramedics’ union, the BC Ambulance Service, and the Speaker’s Office to create a fitting memorial to fallen paramedics.

Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier are honoured here on the grounds of the BC Legislature. Our thoughts are with their families, who are with us today. They have lived with their passing these past nine years, and will live with this tragic loss forever.

We all hope there is some comfort in knowing that deep appreciation felt by all members of the legislature and all British Columbians for those like Kim and Shawn who choose to serve. – Norm Macdonald

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