‘The grief never really truly goes away:’ Ex-Broncos president on fifth anniversary

They say time heals all wounds, but some wounds are deeper than others.

With heavy hearts, people in Saskatchewan and across the country are solemnly remembering the 16 lives that were lost and 13 that were forever changed after a semi truck ran a stop sign and collided with the bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos on their way to a game in Nipawin five years ago.

Former Humboldt Broncos president Kevin Garinger. (File photo)

Former Broncos president Kevin Garinger told Gormley on Thursday the anniversary will always be a difficult day for the 29 families that were impacted by the crash, the City of Humboldt, the province and even the country.

“It certainly comes back and (people) recognize (they’re) still dealing with the pain that comes with losing so many people. (I’ve realized I’ve learned) to live with that pain and … move forward,” Garinger said.

“The grief never really truly goes away because the loss doesn’t ever come back or get changed in any way, so I think (people) then get to a place where (they’re) cherishing memories and (recognize) that sort of thing.”

The tragedy will forever be marked as the Humboldt Broncos tragedy and those who play for the SJHL team wear the Broncos jersey with pride, he added.

“When there’s a crest on the shoulder that’s the symbol of ‘Humboldt Strong’ that we created … five years ago, I think there’s a different level … of responsibility that comes with adorning that jersey,” Garinger said.

“Certainly, we continue to be a proud team … and still think a great deal about all the families that have been impacted and others who have been impacted by this tragedy.”

Garinger said he was in Edmonton helping his nephew with a mental health crisis that landed him in the ICU when the crash happened.

“They came upon him and saved his life, which we’re grateful for, and he’s doing incredibly well today, which is just an amazing blessing,” he added. “That’s where I was when I got a phone call right around five o’clock or so asking if I heard about … the bus accident from one of my board members and I hadn’t heard anything.”

He then started calling people to try and get more information, but nobody answered.

“That wasn’t really usual because I would’ve thought phones would be away (so people could focus on the game),” he said. “When I then talked to the Nipawin Hawks president and found what had happened to a certain degree, just that it had been a terrible accident, then I left my family and I headed back to Humboldt that night.”

Garinger said although all the outpouring of support after the crash was appreciated, none of that takes away from what happened.

“I think the billet son’s father said it best: (It’s) ‘a hole in your heart that never heals,’ ” Garinger added.