The arts communities in Regina and Calgary are in shock with the news that four of their own have been killed in a devastating highway crash in Saskatchewan.
Three men and two women died Tuesday in a three-vehicle collision just north of Regina on Highway 6.
Social media tributes are pouring in for Michele Sereda, 49, Lacy Morin-Desjarlais, 29, of Regina, Michael Green, 58, of Calgary, and Narcisse Blood, 60, of Cardston, Alta.
Green was a co-founder of the One Yellow Rabbit theatre company.
Morin-Desjarlais was an artist and taught a powwow class at the University of Regina. She had recently been a participant in the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company’s Rez Christmas show.
Sereda was the artistic director of Curtain Razors Theatre and involved in Regina’s arts community for decades.
Blood was a filmmaker and instructor at Red Deer Community College.
Emotional tributes about all four poured out on social media Wednesday,
“I’ve just seen the news about One Yellow Rabbit’s Michael Green. I don’t know what to say. What a loss …what an artist. I’m so sorry,” Kerianne Cameron said in a tweet.
“You were an inspiration to youth and adults everywhere,” Sarina Primozic said in a public Facebook post about Morin-Desjarlais. “You were beautiful inside and out and I’m sorry we lost you so soon.”
“Michele Sereda contributed greatly to the Saskatchewan arts community through Sakewewak, Mispon, Neutral Ground, New Dance Horizons. Such a loss,” JayBe said on Twitter.
“Absolutely gutted to hear of the passing of Michael Green and Narcisse Blood in a car crash near Regina,” Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said in a tweet. “A great loss to our community.”
RAW: Powwow class0:48
In a recent report on CBC News, Lacy Morin-Desjarlais took students at her Regina pow-wow class through their paces.
There were many messages of condolences over the loss of Michael Green, a mainstay in the Calgary theatre scene who was curator of the city’s High Performance Rodeo.
The cause of the crash near Regina remains under investigation, although police say weather conditions may have been a factor. There was blowing snow on the highway around the time of the crash.
The four had been travelling together, on their way to a school on a Regina-area First Nation, when they died.
RCMP release more information
RCMP released more details Wednesday morning about the victims of the crash and the three vehicles involved. The only name they have released so far is Michele Sereda.
Here are the five people who died, the two who were injured, and the vehicles they were in.
2003 Subaru Outback
Michele Sereda, 49, from Regina (driver).
Man, 60, from Cardston, Alta. (passenger).
Man, 58, from Calgary (passenger).
Woman, 29, Regina (passenger).
2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
Man, 59, from Cupar, Sask. (driver)
2014 Ford Focus
Two people injured and taken to hospital in Regina.
RCMP said a woman remains in hospital and a man has been released.
The name of the man who died from Cupar hasn’t been released.
