The daughter of the White Rock man who was 乌鸦传媒� when a van was intentionally driven through a crowd of pedestrians 乌鸦传媒� says perpetrators behind the violent act that claimed 13 lives have not won.
乌鸦传媒淭he terrorists who killed my father were trying to send a message of hate and destruction,乌鸦传媒� Fiona Wilson told Peace Arch News by email Thursday.
乌鸦传媒淒espite our devastating loss, our family wants people to know that they completely failed.乌鸦传媒�
Wilson, a staff sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department, wrote to PAN from Barcelona, where she and her husband have been since last Friday 乌鸦传媒� the day after the attack took place on Las Ramblas, a popular Barcelona thoroughfare.
Wilson, who also lives in White Rock, said her parents, Ian and Valerie Wilson, had been staying in Barcelona with her son Duncan and ex-husband Robert Bates, while Duncan attended a soccer camp.
On the 乌鸦传媒� which also injured more than 100 other pedestrians 乌鸦传媒� Duncan and his dad had gone to the beach, while the senior Wilsons went walking, she said.The four were to meet back up at their apartment later in the day.
乌鸦传媒淭he attack happened and luckily Rob and Duncan were not injured, although they were on Las Ramblas at the time,乌鸦传媒� Wilson said.
She said it took several hours to locate her mother in hospital; she had suffered several fractures, including broken ribs, in the attack.
She learned of her father乌鸦传媒檚 death the following morning.
News of the tragedy乌鸦传媒檚 impact on this community spread quickly, and efforts to help the Wilson family have so far raised more than $17,500, through donations to a that launched Sunday.
The funds are 乌鸦传媒渢o allow (Valerie Wilson) and her family to recover in peace,乌鸦传媒� according to page organizer, Lisa Byrne.
In addition to condolences, donors have encouraged the family to stay strong.
乌鸦传媒淢y heart breaks for you and your family,乌鸦传媒� writes Diane Murray. 乌鸦传媒淲e cannot let these people win!乌鸦传媒�
Writes Mardel Greenough: 乌鸦传媒淗ow devastating this senseless act of violence must be to you and your family and to the other families affected but just know that you are not alone, your immediate community and the broader community walk with you.乌鸦传媒�
In a statement issued last Friday through VPD, Fiona Wilson said her family is focusing on the kindness that has been bestowed on them, both immediately following the attack and in the days since. It乌鸦传媒檚 what her dad 乌鸦传媒� who she described as 乌鸦传媒渃ompassionate, generous, adventurous乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒� would want, she said.
She reiterated the determination to PAN Thursday.
乌鸦传媒淎s a family, we would like to focus on the extraordinary kindness that everyone has shown us during this time,乌鸦传媒� she said.
乌鸦传媒淚 have so many stories of unbelievable acts of kindness that I can乌鸦传媒檛 even begin to tell you them all 乌鸦传媒� we even received a phone call from Prime Minister Trudeau and a letter from the King of Spain.乌鸦传媒�
Hundreds of candles, flowers and notes mark the site of her dad乌鸦传媒檚 death.
In White Rock, city officials announced on Twitter Wednesday morning that its flag would be lowered to half-mast until Aug. 28 in memory of the terror-attack victims.
