What started as a fun school ski trip to Panorama ended in tragedy when Grade 10 student Skylar Lockwood crashed into a tree and died yesterday morning.
Lockwood was a student at J. Percy Page, his principal said he was well-liked and full of energy.
“Skylar was an energetic Grade 10 student,” said principal Audrey Gibson, as she tried to hold back tears. “He was a young man who was full of life and full of Page spirit and pride.”
Thirty-four students along with three supervisors left for the B.C. mountain resort on Sunday morning and were scheduled to return this afternoon. Instead, the bus came back a day early.
“Today has just been a tragic day for our school community,” Gibson said. “It was difficult to tell the kids and the staff. This has just been a tragic loss for us.”
Lockwood was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and was airlifted to a hospital in Invermere.
“This is devastating news and our hearts go out to the entire Lockwood family,” said acting superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools Donna Barret. “Words cannot express our deep sorrow over this incident.”
Students and staff at the Edmonton school, as well as the rest of the students who were on the trip, are receiving support from crisis counsellors.
Students, staff, friends and family will hold a memorial at the school in Lockwood’s honour.
Barret said the school board will be reviewing the process in which future school trips are decided on.
