At least five have died in the Ottawa area as a result of the storm that left a trail of devastation. Provincewide, at least 10 people have died.
Ian Fraser, a retired member of the RCMP and an avid golfer, was heading in from the course at The Canadian Golf and Country Club on Saturday afternoon when the storm hit.
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The 60-year-old didn’t make it.
Fraser was struck by a tree before he could get to safety, a friend said. He was in critical condition when an ambulance came to rush him to the hospital.
Everyone was in the process of coming in from the course when Fraser was injured, said a spokesperson for the golf club just west of Ottawa. Between 50 and 100 trees on and around the course were uprooted or snapped during the unprecedented, though brief, storm.
Fraser, originally from Prince Edward Island, had moved to Ottawa in recent years. He was among at least five people who died in the area as a result of the storm that left a trail of devastation across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. Provincewide, at least 10 people have died.
On a memorial page, former colleagues from the RCMP described Fraser as kind, fun-loving and someone with a zest for life. He loved sports — golf and hockey were among his favourites, said his friend, who asked to remain anonymous. Fraser’s brother asked for privacy.
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Fraser had retired after a career in various positions in the RCMP, according to an online obituary, and had returned to work as a public servant with the service, said his friend.
In Cornwall, meanwhile, members of the community were shocked to learn about the death of a longtime pharmacist who had been honoured for her work and was beloved by many.
Joanne Labelle, 64, was camping on a friend’s property near Peterborough Saturday when she was struck by a falling tree, according to the Ontario Provincial Police.
She was the mother of two grown sons and had two grandchildren.
Her son, Zack, said she loved nature and had camped her entire life. She and her husband Robert spent weekends at the trailer on the property near Peterborough.
Labelle was well known in Cornwall, especially by many customers who had relied on her expertise as a pharmacist for decades. She had worked as a pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart at Cornwall Square for 40 years, Zack said.
“I am hearing from so many people,” he said. “A patient was always more than that to her.”
Zack said his mother helped many elderly clients with their medication and advice and they often became friends. She made it a practice to make home visits.
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“It didn’t matter who came into her life, she welcomed them with open arms,” Zack said. “She was always a positive person around everybody.”
She was honoured as pharmacist of the year by the national association representing pharmacists for her dedication and work, he said.
A condolences book will be placed at Cornwall Square near her workplace, said her son.
In Ferguson Falls, near the village of Lanark, 80-year-old Gail Greene was in her yard on Sunday when she was hit by a tree branch, according to the OPP. Her death came a day after the massive storm.
On Facebook, a friend called Greene “a wonderful woman … will miss her dearly.”
On Wednesday, the OPP identified the 44-year-old Ottawa man killed in Calabogie as Chad Convery. Convery was killed by a falling tree at a cottage on Calabogie Road Saturday afternoon, police said.
Gatineau Police said a 52-year-old woman drowned after a pontoon boat capsized in the Ottawa River near Masson-Angers Saturday.
With files from Blair Crawford
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