In a week typically set aside for prom and graduation celebrations, students at one Prince George high school are instead mourning the loss of a classmate.
Seventeen-year-old Tre Townsend of D.P. Todd Secondary was the victim of a boating incident that took place on a local lake, southeast of the city, just one week before he was set to receive his diploma. His body was recovered Tuesday.
A memorial has been set up outside the school with flowers and messages, as well as sports equipment including golf clubs, hockey gear and a pickleball paddle.
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“[He was] really well-liked, really well-regarded, clearly somebody who had worked very hard in order to get all of his Grade 12 credentials completed by Grade 11,” said Supt. Jameel Aziz of School District 57.
“He was set to walk the stage and really was set to embark in a career in trades that his family was super proud of.”
17-year-old mourned after drowning 1 week before graduation ceremony
Golf clubs, hockey gear and a pickleball paddle are among the memorabilia piled outside Townsend’s old high school, as well as his “lucky spatula” and a Rubik’s Cube which family say he could complete blindfolded.
“We were so blessed that he was able to come into our world when he did,” said Chantel Beck, who along with her husband, John, raised Townsend from age nine at the request of John’s cousin Corrine Townsend.
“They were able to give him what I couldn’t give him, especially at that time,” Corrine Townsend said.
Family say Townsend worked hard to complete his studies more than a year early, and had plans to go into business for himself.
John Beck shared a photo of a whiteboard in Townsend’s bedroom that outlined his goals for the weeks ahead, including creating a long-term financial plan, committing to daily exercise and learning routines, booking travel, applying for dorm rooms and taking up golf while avoiding drinking, screen time and “aimlessly going out.”
17-year-old from Prince George drowns 1 week before graduation ceremony
Beck said he didn’t know until that moment that his advice about making a plan for adulthood had sunk in.
“It was really heartwarming to see,” he said.
Mourning spaces have been set up in Townsend’s high school and students have been keeping constant vigil, day and night, at his memorial while reflecting on his memory.
“Tre made a huge impact on the world that he lived in,” a memorial page set up by his family says.
“This kid was so much to so many people.”
“Every person that Tre met for more than 10 minutes thought they were best friends,” John Beck said.
Meanwhile, graduation ceremonies are moving ahead as planned and the family says they will be there to mark his achievements.
“This is a moment to celebrate the fact that our kid worked really hard and graduated a year early,” John Beck said.
“He deserves that moment.”
