Stories

The families who have shared their stories know that they will not benefit from a new law. Yet, they are campaigning for wrongful death law reform in BC. Hear them explain why.

Each story features a BC family that was denied access to a trial because their loved one was not a breadwinner.

Family of Theresa Pereira

Family of Theresa Pereira

These families did not get the answers they deserved. No compensation was available for their loss—no support for counselling, time off work, or resources to move on. The injustice of the wrongful death continues to cause suffering.

IN THEIR NAME urges the provincial government to adopt a wrongful death act that truly respects the needs of all British Columbians.

Madeline’s Story

“I remember the ICBC representative leaving, and also my husband being upset. It was not enough that our daughter was now gone. We had just found out that even though the driver had been speeding and had run the stop sign, ICBC had a loophole in the law (dating back to 1846) that prevented us from holding the driver accountable for Madeline’s death. Not only that, there would not be any compensation available for the unsurmountable loss of her love, care, guidance, affection, companionship that we would have otherwise shared for the rest of our lives. I was dumbfounded and felt the injustice of it all rise up in me.” — Tara Stroup, Mother of Madeline Stroup

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Nathaniel’s Story

“Shock. Anger. Confusion. How could this happen? How could my baby boy be gone? How could he be gone, when I did everything I could to protect him? My boy, my son. We expected to bring our son home, which we will never get to do, due to the negligent decisions taken by the hospital.” – Emilie, mother of Nathaniel Addison

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Shirley’s Story

“The loss of our sister was due to negligence by many individuals who hold positions of power and this has had a profound and lasting impact on our family. We’ve prematurely and wrongfully lost our sister who provided so much value to our lives and to those around her. The actions of these negligent individuals have changed everything in our lives. Yet they remain unaccountable, without consequence. In our hearts, we know our sister’s death was preventable. We struggle to understand how so many government agencies and the wrongful death legislation failed Shirley and our family. Our family has the right to know what happened. We continue to search for answers, justice, and closure.” — Debra, Laura, and William, Siblings of Shirley Nate

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Vito Noah’s Story

“No family should ever have to go through this.  Had this happened in any Canadian province other than BC, someone would have been held accountable for the negligence my grandson experienced at the hospital. As we write this story, it’s been over 9 years and we still feel the acute pain of Vito Noah’s passing. That pain is made even worse by the lack of closure we have received. Our family will never be the same again.” – Anna, grandmother of Vito Noah

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Alfred’s Story

“The ER doctor had looked over our dad’s chart and told the nurse that “the kindest thing to do is to let him go and not to do anything,” because our dad was a “palliative patient”. Our family was shocked and confused, as we had previously informed the staff that our dad had had curative surgery and we had never signed a DNR. Though we tried to explain that our father had been curative and cancer-free, the ER doctor refused to hear what we were saying. Her decision had robbed our dad of his life and our family of the opportunity to say good-bye.” – Kari and Kelly, daughters of Alfred Lofgren

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David’s Story

“My father had brittle Type 1 Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus as well as over 10 other chronic and life-threatening conditions and cognitive deficits consistent with the early onset of dementia. On July 25, 2013 he was picked up by the Chilliwack RCMP and placed in a holding cell and then transferred to the North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre without a C-13, the form that would note any pertinent information about his well-being. My wheelchair-bound father was without his prosthetic leg, medication, insulin, and medical bracelet. For the three days that my father was at North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre, he received no medicine or insulin and consumed nothing other than water and juice. A lack of communication and an utter disregard for patient care among medical professionals, arresting officers, correctional officers, and legal authorities prevented my father from accessing his life dependent insulin; his low insulin levels led to a severe case of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and Diabetic Vascular Disease Leg Blockage that directly contributed to his fatal heart attack, all while in police custody.” – Jeff, son of David Fast

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Edward’s Story

“The woman who hit and killed my father got out of the car, looked at my dad’s body, and drove away, leaving him to die on the side of the road. She wasn’t charged with vehicular manslaughter or leaving the scene of an accident. To add insult, not to injury, but to death, my family came to learn that we had no civil recourse because of BC’s Family Compensation Act. According to these antiquated and discriminatory laws, my father’s life was worthless because he was 72-years-old and retired.” – Chelsey, daughter of Edward Simpkins

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Melissa’s Story

“The man who caused Melissa’s death only got a $1,500 fine. This is unbelievable and not acceptable. His mistake changed everything in our lives. It’s like we’ve got life sentences of having miserable lives while he doesn’t have to do much. Melissa was 21 years old, ready to start her bright future. Why there’s no value for her and the damages we’ve got, I’ll never understand—lost opportunity, happiness, all life’s great experiences together…” — Hideki, Father of Melissa Mimura

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Logan’s Story

“On September 10, 2016, my son Logan passed away as a result of a motor vehicle accident. The driver was intoxicated. Logan’s reputation as a kind and caring young man will be forever evident. His close friends are still very much shocked by his passing and the way our court system represented him. Our opinion— shared by many—is that the so-called justice was not only a joke but more of an insult. The idea that our children have no value is absurd. The law, which is supposed to protect us, did the complete opposite.” – Terry, Father of Logan Power

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Shirley’s Story

“One legal firm and a lawyer in Victoria said it sounded like a criminal case and to get a case number from the RCMP to investigate it. The constable suggested it might be criminal negligence, and I suggested there was evidence confirming malice aforethought, intent, advance planning, and motives of discrimination and cost-containment, which can all add up to a culpable homicide, specifically murder in the first degree. Never in fifty years of nursing have I ever seen such condoned harm-doing and such a system of legal impotence when the perpetrator is privileged and in a position of power and trust…” — Sharon, Partner of Shirley Lamb

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Frank’s Story

“The day after my Dad died in police custody, I called the police department and asked what had happened. The Police Chief offered to pay for my Dad’s funeral but I said not until I found out what exactly happened to him…” – Frank Trent Watts Jr., Son of Frank James Watts

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Theresa’s Story

“On May 10, 2006, my mother had a routine laser cataract surgery. At the post-surgery appointment on Thursday, May 18, the doctor said that the surgery had been a success, and that her eye was healing nicely. However, by Sunday May 21, her eye became irritated, sore and swollen. When she woke up the next day, it was much worse – she felt more pain, and when she touched that side of her face, she described the sensation as raw, like an open wound. When she returned to the clinic, the RD froze my mom’s eye in preparation for the procedure. She then left the room to inform the specialist that the freezing solution had been administered. While the RD was out of the room, my mother stopped breathing. To this day, I still don’t know exactly what happened after that dose was administered.” – Beatrice, Daughter of Theresa Pereira

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Erin’s Story

“That horrible day on January 18th, 2012, she was once again admitted to the emergency room at Delta Hospital. When I arrived, I found my daughter in tears, saying to the nurse, ‘My head hurts so bad – I just want to go home.’ I overheard the nurse tell her, ‘I’ve heard you say this all day,’ and she just walked away, leaving my daughter in the hallway. Erin was overlooked. Once again, she was sent home broken and in tears, told that she just had a sinus infection, as her young boyfriend and I literally carried her out of the hospital. She was braindead the next morning.” – Nona, Mother of Erin Gallagher

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Chelsea’s Story

“Chelsea was a bright young 23-year-old woman who was just starting her life. Her smile could light up a room in total darkness. We are forever changed. On January 9, 2016, we heard a knock on our front door; it was the police. They looked at us and said that Chelsea passed away…” – Shelly, Mother of Chelsea James

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Amir’s Story

“My 26-year-old son, Amir Sedghi, was killed in a plane crash on May 4th, 2019, near Smithers, British Columbia. We feel the loss of Amir every day. He was a young man of many talents; he was a musician, businessman, spoke 5 languages, and was motivated to protect nature and wildlife. Only after his death were we even further shocked to learn that my son had no “value” under British Columbia’s wrongful death laws.” – Marzieh, Mother of Amir Sedghi

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Natasha’s Story

“Tasha was everything to me. She was my only child and throughout her life, I was mostly a single parent. We were very close and usually talked every day. I would be the first person she’d call to share exciting news and vice versa. We were inseparable. My beautiful daughter died suddenly at the young age of 29.” – Ann, Mother of Natasha Forry

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Lindsey’s Story

“Lindsey was my baby. Before her passing, I had already lost my husband and my other daughter. When I lost Lindsey, I lost my whole family.” – Lorie, Mother of Lindsey Kean

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Hudson’s Story

“My son, Hudson, was shot and killed by an RCMP officer on July 18, 2015. He was in distress. He was wearing his boxer shorts. He didn’t have a weapon – my son only carried a football, if he carried anything at all. He was shot nine times in front of the South Surrey RCMP detachment, only two blocks from home. It seems like yesterday that it happened, and forever since I’ve seen him.” – Jennifer, Mother of Hudson Brooks

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Xavier’s Story

“My heart aches because there may be no justice for what happened to my little boy. The doctors, who refused to perform tests on my son, who lied to me and neglected to tell me things that I should have known about my son’s health, may never see any consequences.” – Shayla, Mother of Xavier Mena

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BC Wrongful Death Law Reform Society

Laura’s Story

“You know we’re not in it for the money. None of us are. We’re there for change.” — Robert, father of Laura White

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BC Wrongful Death Law Reform Society

Heidi’s Story

“So the doctors who made the mistakes that led to her death had no repercussions. There were no suspensions, there were no firings, there were no re-trainings—there was nothing that was done.” — Catherine, mother of Heidi Klompas

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Gary’s Story

“It was one of the worst cases of senior abuse and the RCMP was disgusted how bad my dad was treated. And yet, had this happened in my home, I would have been arrested. But he was in a care facility protected and they get away with it.” — Rita, daughter of Gary Davis

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