Friends mourn West Vancouver couple who died when tree crashed through their roof
CBC
Friends of a husband and wife who died when a tree fell on their West Vancouver home Sunday are remembering their work in the community and beyond.
The couple have been identified by friends as Mike Sharp, 69, and Caroline Helbig, 60.
"It was beyond words, it was a genuine shock to the system… no one can believe it," said Perry Braun, who played hockey with Sharp and was a close friend of the family.
Braun described Sharp and Helbig as welcoming, generous, knowledgeable and well-travelled.
"In our last game together, [Sharp] paid for everyone's beer in the dressing room, he's just that kind of generous, generous person."
Braun said Sharp had started an initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic called Feed the Need, where he helped raise and match $300,000 for seniors in his community.
Sharp and Helbig, who were both retired, travelled extensively with their son, according to Braun. Helbig was a travel writer who had written for publications such as the Globe and Mail.
Braun said she was a big supporter of her 24-year-old son, Alexander Sharp, and his sporting pursuits.
"She was an enthusiastic hockey mom and just loved the game."
Braun said Sharp always had excellent book selections for their book club, and added depth to their conversations.
"He had an extraordinary, rich life. Both of them did," said Braun.
Sharp, who was a former coach and president of the West Vancouver Minor Hockey Association, was also the goaltender of a Wednesday night hockey league.
Patrick Hogan, who was a friend of Sharp's for over 20 years and played in the same hockey league, said Mike was their most reliable goaltender.
"Mike was sort of the unofficial mayor of the locker room… he would be out there first and leave last," said Hogan.
P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking for 50 substitute bus drivers, and it'll be recruiting at three job fairs on Saturday, June 8. The job fairs are located at the Atlantic Superstore in Montague, Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, and the bus parking lot of Three Oaks Senior High in Summerside. All three run from 9 a.m. until noon. Dave Gillis, the director of transportation and risk management for the Public Schools Branch, said the number of substitute drivers they're hiring isn't unusual. "We are always looking for more. Our drivers tend to have an older demographic," he said.