A regular hockey game scheduled between Lakes District Secondary (LDSS) School and Fort St. James Elementary School was transformed into a community outpouring of love and support for the family of Akiko and Pierce Hofer, both tragically lost in a terrible accident on Nov. 29, 2013.
At the request of bereaved husband and father Dirk Hofer, and the LDSS hockey team, the game proceeded as the Pierce Hofer memorial hockey game.
Contributions for the LDSS Pierce Hofer bursary/scholarship fund were accepted at the door. Community members and local businesses donated proceeds from food and refreshment concessions to the Police Victims Service, raising more than $2000.
Donations at the door were matched by Lakes District Maintenance, bringing the total contribution to the memorial fund to over $21,000. Donations continue to be accepted at LDSS in Burns Lake. Please contact the school at 250-692-7733 for more information.
On Sat. Dec. 7, a memorial service for Akiko and Pierce was held in the Lakes District Secondary High School gym. The gym was filled to capacity. Family and friends of Akiko and Pierce made moving tributes to two lives taken from the Burns Lake community much too soon.