Plans Progressing for Bus-Train Accident Memorial in Lamont

Plans Progressing for Bus-Train Accident Memorial in Lamont

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Tom Hrehorets always wondered why there was no memorial that paid tribute to the 17 students from Chipman and area who lost their lives in a tragic bus/train accident on November 29, 1960, and the 25 survivors who have lived on to carry those memories.

Tom said he moved to Lamont 30 years ago and always wanted an answer to that question. He said a lot of people he asked didn’t know, and so he decided that one day he would erect a monument in honour of them.

Back in 1995 when he was serving on council he pitched the idea, but nothing ever materialized. Then after the Humboldt bus crash in 2017, Tom began thinking a lot more about the memorial again. However, it wasn’t until after the 60th anniversary of the bus-train accident in November of 2020 that he decided to get the ball rolling and initiated his plan to form an organizing committee.

Since that time he has received many letters and phone calls from survivors, family members, and people from both inside and outside of the community thanking him for spearheading the memorial committee.

Tom serves as chair of the memorial committee which includes three survivors, (John Winnick, Terry Cossey and Ellen Sledz-Lauder) as well as their spouses and several other members of the community. Letters of support were sent out to all the businesses and municipalities throughout Lamont County, and a gofundme account was set up several months ago.

Fundraising began this spring and Tom is amazed and appreciative of the support the memorial has received to date. His initial target of $25,000 has been far exceeded due to thanks to the generosity of donors. Currently, $70,000 has been raised for the memorial that will be located in a special park north of the railroad tracks where the crash occurred. Tom expects work to begin shortly and be completed this fall.

Village of Chipman Mayor Toni Nygren said the municipality is contributing $1,000 for the memorial.

“We received a letter inviting us to participate in the Chipman and Lamont Bus/Train Accident committee in this memorial project. As Council, we felt that it was important for us as a community, (past,

present and future) to participate is such an endeavour. Those children and their families were and still are very much a part of our community.”

Nygren also expressed her appreciation to the Chipman and Lamont Bus/Train Memorial committee for the work they are doing on this project.

Tom said they are also planning to install a memorial in the Village of Chipman’s Memorial Park in the future. He feels it is important to preserve the memory of this significant event, and to ensure the individuals and families directly affected by it are honoured in the future.