Today I am in awe of a man who I have never known but who I am sure will be soon become an unwilling Canadian hero. The person I am talking about is Mr. Scott Thomas, a father of one of the boys that died in the Humboldt Bronco’s bus crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 more, including his son Evan.
I’m a father of twin girls and cannot imagine his loss. I’m also a friend to an extended family member of one of the boys who died on the bus that was hit by Mr. Sindu and have seen the devastation firsthand.
During his interview on the Alberta at Noon show on CBC Radio, Mr. Thomas was asked what he felt the man who has now pleaded guilty to killing his son should get as a prison sentence; his response was simply amazing and brought me to tears. For a man that had every conceivable reason to harbour hate and plead for vengeance, he did none of those things. Instead, Mr. Thomas acknowledged Mr. Sindu taking responsibility for the accident by pleading guilty to all 29 charges.
By pleading guilty, no trial will occur and no further trauma from that trial will occur for the already heartbroken families. He characterized Mr. Sindu’s plea of guilt an act of remorse. He also demonstrated forgiveness and empathy for the person responsible for his son’s death while expressing hope that his son’s death could change the laws of what could have been a preventable tragedy. I don’t believe very many people would be able to show such strength of character.
In Cochrane, we also have a woman that has shown a similar strength of character and perseverance as she continues efforts to try to fix our drinking and driving laws; Ms. Kim Thomas whose son, Brandon Thomas, was taken from her by a drunk driver.
Mr. and Ms. Thomas, words can never express my empathy for your loss nor would they ever be enough. Mr. Thomas, today you have made me proud to be Canadian!
Dan Cunin
