When Jasmine Beausoleil boarded a plane in Quebec and headed for Castlegar in the spring of 2022, she was a curious and travel-loving 19-year-old, ready to shake off the limitations of a pandemic and embrace a new adventure.
She had no way of knowing that her life would be tragically cut short during trip.
On June 20, 2022, a Purolator van struck a transit bus on the highway between Castlegar and Nelson. The bus was carrying 18 passengers including Beausoleil and 15 other English-immersion students attending a short-term program at Selkirk College.
Beausoleil was sitting next to the window where the van hit the bus. She was taken to Trail乌鸦传媒檚 Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, then to Kelowna General Hospital, but succumbed to her injuries.
Beausoleil乌鸦传媒檚 mother Chantal B茅dard says the young woman was always dreaming about her next trip.
乌鸦传媒淪he wanted to see the world, she loved to travel,乌鸦传媒� B茅dard told Castlegar News.
Beausoleil had been anticipating the Castlegar trip for two years after the pandemic delayed its original departure.
However, B茅dard says she had concerns.
乌鸦传媒淚 was very worried about letting her go on this trip. She was going away for several weeks and it was the first time she had been away for so long.
乌鸦传媒淪he had decided to go and improve her English, even though she was perfectly bilingual. It was mainly because of the travel experience and to explore an English-immersion program.乌鸦传媒�
Beausoleil was B茅dard乌鸦传媒檚 only daughter and the two were very close.
乌鸦传媒淪he was not only my daughter, she was my friend,乌鸦传媒� said B茅dard. 乌鸦传媒淲e were always together 乌鸦传媒� when she wasn乌鸦传媒檛 with me we wrote several texts several times a day.乌鸦传媒�
B茅dard says her daughter was smart and curious, and was studying at Coll猫ge d乌鸦传媒檈nseignement g茅n茅ral et professionnel in Quebec City, preparing for university.
乌鸦传媒淪he had strong opinions on many subjects, she was very human and open to world,乌鸦传媒� adds B茅dard. 乌鸦传媒淪he had a lot of character.乌鸦传媒�
She was also athletic, participating in competitive gymnastics for 11 years and provincial cheerleading for one year before the pandemic cancelled competitions.
In July, one year after the fatal collision, the man who was driving the Purolator van was charged with driving without due care and attention. Police have not released his name.
The charges brought the accident back into the spotlight and prompted B茅dard to come forward with her daughter乌鸦传媒檚 story. She wants to put a name and a face to the tragedy.
乌鸦传媒淭he newspapers said she was a young student or a young woman from Quebec City 乌鸦传媒� she was so much more than that,乌鸦传媒� says B茅dard.
乌鸦传媒淪he was our whole life, my beloved daughter. It is hard for me to imagine my life without her.乌鸦传媒�
B茅dard is also hoping to connect with the people who received Beausoleil乌鸦传媒檚 organs.
乌鸦传媒淪ome time before she left, we had discussed organ donation,乌鸦传媒� said B茅dard.
乌鸦传媒淪he felt that organ donation should be mandatory for everyone and that we should have to sign a card if we don乌鸦传媒檛 want to donate organs.
乌鸦传媒淪he had mentioned to us that she would like to donate all her organs if she died.乌鸦传媒�
Beausoleil乌鸦传媒檚 desires were granted and her lungs and eyes were given to new people on July 4, 2022.
B茅dard says she does not want to interfere in the lives of the recipients, but would love to know 乌鸦传媒渁 little about their history, to know if they are a dad or a mom, student, grandparents even, how old they are.乌鸦传媒�
She thinks connecting with the recipients would help as she continues to grieve the tragic loss of her daughter.
乌鸦传媒淛ust being able to know what they are going through, what the gift has changed in their lives, would help me to give meaning to this immense loss,乌鸦传媒� says B茅dard.
If you think you may be the person who received Beausoleil乌鸦传媒檚 organs, email B茅dard at Jasminesorgansearch@gmail.com.
BC Transplant also provides a service to connect willing donors and recipients. More information can be found at transplant.bc.ca/donor-families.
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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