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Cowichan Valley water steward dies in plane crash Chris Bush and Ross Armour THE CHRONICLE
A Cowichan Valley man known as a tireless environmental steward is one of two men who died Saturday, July 26 when their small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff just north of Ladysmith. The fatal mishap happened at about 7 p.m. as the small homebuilt amphibious plane was taking off from Nanaimo Airport. Michael Cyril Weir, 73, from Salt Spring Island, and Gerald Paul Thom, 50, from Youbou, died in the crash. “The aircraft stalled on takeoff and crashed upside down on the fairway,” said Ron Gueullette, chief of Cranberry Volunteer Fire Department. Cranberry firefighters removed the victims from crash scene before the wreckage was transported to a secure shelter at Nanaimo Airport later that night for inspection. Ladysmith RCMP were also called to the scene at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday evening. RCMP have been assisting the Transportation Safety Board and the BC Coroners Service with their investigations. Bill Yearwood, Transportation Safety Board investigator, was told by witnesses the craft lifted off, then appeared to suddenly lose altitude before making a sharp left turn. “It then made a very steep descent,
nose-down, and hit the ground,” Yearwood said. The plane crashed near the 14th hole of Cottonwood Golf Course, close to the airport and golf course property line. Trent Kaese, golf course owner, said there were golfers on the 13th and 15th holes, but fortunately no one playing near where the craft impacted. Thom was known for his tireless work along the Cowichan River and had a passion for protecting the local watershed. He was president of the Cowichan Lake River Stewardship Society and played an instrumental role in the Lake Studies program at Lake Cowichan School. Earlier this year, he was named Citizen of the Year for 2013 by the Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce at the annual Nichole Stock Awards. Biologist Bob Crandall from the Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society said he was “stunned” by the news. “Gerald Thom and I have many combined efforts/projects on the go at this time,” he said in an email. “I am trying to find ways to patch together supervision of ongoing projects without Gerald. We, together on Monday in a meeting to fight for local control of our water, made a lot of progress with the province. On Friday morning just before, we were with Gerald Colin Cowan of the Vancouver-based Tishomingo String Band performs during the Chemainus Bluegrass exchanging tools. His work crew Festival Sunday, July 27 at Waterwheel Park. The two-day festival featured performances by five bands from Vancouver, Vancouver Island and California. For more photos, please see page 3. LINDSAY CHUNG See Two men Page 8
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