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Update - Park bench to honour Sicamous father, sons killed in fire

A bench will be the District of Sicamous' tribute to the Daniel, Devlin and Lealen Vollans, and to Daniel's spouse, Kara Wagner
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Loss: Kara Wagner with her sons Devlin and Lealan. The boys died in the Jan. 1 fire.

Updated Jan. 31

A bench will be set up in the Finlayson Park playground to honour the memory of Devlin, Lealen and father Daniel Vollans, who died in a Jan. 1 residential fire.

The bench will be the District of Sicamous’ tribute to the Vollans, and to Daniel’s spouse, Kara Wagner. The playground was a favourite spot for Devlin, 4, and Lealen, 3, located near their former pre-school.

“We’d like to have a bench in there with a plaque for her husband and two children on the bench, as well as some trees on either side, supporting the life of the children. We want a memorial to that effect,” Sicamous Mayor Darrell Trouton told the News.

Trouton said the district would also look into adding the two boys names to a memorial in front of Eagle River Secondary for community youth whose lives were taken in a tragic event.

At Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting, works services manager Grady MacDonald said the bench would likely go up in April, adding that Wagner wants to be involved in the unveiling.

Coun. Terry Rysz also asked that council formally recognize Brianna LaRoy, Nikki Stelmak, the Eagle River Secondary grad class, the legion and others who have been part of the fundraising effort to support Kara Wagner.

“I would like to see some appreciation of some sort, maybe a plaque or whatever, and present it in council chambers,” said Rysz.

Coun. Greg Kyllo supported the idea, noting youth in the community aren’t recognized enough for the good work they do.

“They seem to be the brunt of everybody’s complaints and concerns if something doesn’t go right…” said Kyllo. “I think that we certainly should try and support those efforts as much as possible.”

Council unanimously supported Rysz’s recommendation.