Honourable senators, I stand today with love in my heart for the friends and neighbours in Humboldt and in the many small towns across the Prairies that sent their boys to realize a dream and reach for greatness. The thing is, in small towns, everybody knows somebody who has been touched. My nephew played with several of the boys. Every kid rides a bus to school, to hockey, to volleyball and to camp.

In this chamber today, we mourn alongside the families who have lost their loved ones, and we pray for those families still sitting vigil at hospital bedsides.

Amidst the grief, there were so many poignant moments: the broken Slap Shot DVD found near the bus, or the inspirational act of 21-year-old Logan Boulet, who emphatically signed his organ donor registry card shortly after his birthday. He did not know that weeks later, his extraordinary selfless act would be giving the gift of life to six people. As his godfather, Neil Langevin, said, “These actions alone give voice to the selfless and benevolent nature Logan possessed in life.” And Logan has inspired many Canadians to sign their organ donor registry card since.

Then Canadians put their sticks out in support of the Broncos. It swept the country and my hometown of Wadena. Everybody had a stick outside their front door, and farmers even placed them along the highway. There was also Jersey Day, when our country showed support by wearing the Broncos colours or a local team jersey.

Think also of the astounding number of donations to the GoFundMe, initially set up by Sylvie and Cailin to raise a few dollars for coffee and food for the families as they awaited news. Now it’s over $12 million.

In any tragedy, humanity always shines through. That spirit helps all of us cope with the pain and the loss, and this time is no different.

I’d like to say a word about the first responders. They work professionally through heartbreak and hell to save lives. To them we extend our respect and our gratitude. To the volunteers and faith leaders who continue to heal the hearts of the emotionally broken, thank you. To the Mayor of Humboldt, Rob Muench, with whom I met last week, I say thank you for the ability to say the things that so many are feeling and for being a powerful voice for our communities.

This week, across the Prairies, more funerals and tributes will take place, and families will begin the long road of healing.

I want to say to the Humboldt Broncos community and the families affected that once the cameras are gone and the hockey season comes to an end, we will still be there for you. We know the hard work and the difficult decisions that will have to be faced, and that will require immense courage.

As Broncos President Kevin Garinger said, “If there is any light shining through this dark time, it has come in the form of love for one another.”

So a final thought, the words of a wise person:

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.