Markham high school holds open house after student killed in Burk’s Falls
Posted July 4, 2012 10:09 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Markham high school is holding an open house for students and staff Wednesday after one of its students was killed in a car crash over the long weekend.
Sara Nicole Girard, 17, had just graduated from St. Brother Andre Catholic High School on Friday.
Principal Dan Zaroski wrote on the school’s website that the school cafeteria and chapel will be open to Grade 12 graduates from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Prayers will be offered and students will have an opportunity to write messages to the victim’s family.
Guidance counsellors as well as parish priests were also available to students.
“We’re just wanting to put some familiar faces in front of the kids to support them as best as we can,” Zaroski told CityNews.
One student at the school said the news, which came such a short time after graduation, was “depressing.”
“Now that someone you know is gone, it makes you realize that you’re not invincible. Everyone has a time and it’s just unfortunate that hers came now,” Troy Lawrence said.
The single vehicle crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Monday on Highway 11 near Burk’s Falls, which is between Huntsville and North Bay. Girard was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
The two other people in the van, Meghan Timewell, 18, and Allison Neville, 17, were critically hurt.
Police said Tuesday that Neville is still in critical but stable condition but Timewell is showing signs of improvement.
All three went to Brother Andre.
Girard’s visitation will take place on Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at O’Neill Funeral Home, 6324 Main St., Stouffville.
Her funeral is on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church, 345 Glad Park Ave., Stouffville.
