By James Peters

Man killed in Kamloops-area crash was expectant first-time father

Jan 30, 2019 | 9:27 AM

KAMLOOPS — Two weeks after the tragic death of a new employee of the New Afton mine west of Kamloops, the man’s mother says she is comforted that a part of her son will live on.

On January 12, Leon Marchand Holmes was a passenger in a vehicle that rolled on the Trans Canada Highway not far from the mine.

A Kamloops Fire Rescue responder said it appeared the driver had swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

Marchand Holmes was killed instantly.

He was just shy of his 37th birthday, and it had been only his second day on the job at the mine.

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Less than a week before his death, Marchand Holmes had called his mother, Marty Marchand-Ring, to tell her some exciting news: he and his fiancée Denise Lalonde were expecting a baby.

“He had shared that news with me January 6. He had phoned me, because I live in Keremeos, and shared the news with me,” said Marchand-Ring. “It’s his first child, and I was quite happy. I said, ‘Geez, it’s about time! By the time the baby comes, you’re going to be 37!’”

Marchand Holmes, who was known for his love of horses and riding, was laid to rest after a poignant funeral ceremony near Keremeos.

“We had 30 horses that led the funeral procession down Highway 3A for 3.8 kilometres,” said Marchand-Ring. “And there’s his horse being led by one of his good friends, because we were doing his last ride for him. And there were so many people there.”

Because Marchand Holmes had just started at the New Gold-owned mine, he did not yet qualify for extended benefits, including life insurance coverage.

Even so, his mother says his co-workers have been extremely supportive in the days and weeks after his death.

“They’ve been really good. I have a brother-in-law who works there as well. They’ve been as supportive as they can be. But my concern is for the future of his fiancée and the unborn child,” said Marchand-Ring.

“If it wasn’t for the outpouring of support that we have had from the community, from New Gold… it would have been harder on us.”

While Marchand Holmes’ family is facing the emotional devastation of the sudden loss, it also faces financial devastation brought on by the loss of income and costs related to his death.

“No life insurance. That’s a big burden. With his unexpected passing, that’s put a financial burden on his family, as well — his father and me and his siblings.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise funds for Marchand Holmes’ fiancée and their child.

And while her son’s death has cast a pall on the months and years to come, Marchand-Ring says her thoughts return to her unborn grandchild, and that brings her some comfort.

Marchand-Ring attended Lalonde’s first ultrasound on January 21.

“I don’t know how to read those ultrasounds, but the doctor said the heartbeat was strong. It was kind of reassuring and nice to be able to be there and to be able to witness that there is a part of my son, still.”