When Jasmine Beausoleil boarded a plane in Quebec and headed for Castlegar in the spring of 2022, she was a curious and travel-loving 19-year-old, ready to shake off the limitations of a pandemic and embrace a new adventure.
She had no way of knowing that her life would be tragically cut short during trip.
On June 20, 2022, a Purolator van struck a transit bus on the highway between Castlegar and Nelson. The bus was carrying 18 passengers including Beausoleil and 15 other English-immersion students attending a short-term program at Selkirk College.
Beausoleil was sitting next to the window where the van hit the bus. She was taken to Trail鈥檚 Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, then to 琉璃神社 General Hospital, but succumbed to her injuries.
Beausoleil鈥檚 mother Chantal B茅dard says the young woman was always dreaming about her next trip.
鈥淪he wanted to see the world, she loved to travel,鈥� B茅dard told Castlegar News.
Beausoleil had been anticipating the Castlegar trip for two years after the pandemic delayed its original departure.
However, B茅dard says she had concerns.
鈥淚 was very worried about letting her go on this trip. She was going away for several weeks and it was the first time she had been away for so long.
鈥淪he had decided to go and improve her English, even though she was perfectly bilingual. It was mainly because of the travel experience and to explore an English-immersion program.鈥�
Beausoleil was B茅dard鈥檚 only daughter and the two were very close.
鈥淪he was not only my daughter, she was my friend,鈥� said B茅dard. 鈥淲e were always together 鈥� when she wasn鈥檛 with me we wrote several texts several times a day.鈥�
B茅dard says her daughter was smart and curious, and was studying at Coll猫ge d鈥檈nseignement g茅n茅ral et professionnel in Quebec City, preparing for university.
鈥淪he had strong opinions on many subjects, she was very human and open to world,鈥� adds B茅dard. 鈥淪he had a lot of character.鈥�
She was also athletic, participating in competitive gymnastics for 11 years and provincial cheerleading for one year before the pandemic cancelled competitions.
In July, one year after the fatal collision, the man who was driving the Purolator van was charged with driving without due care and attention. Police have not released his name.
The charges brought the accident back into the spotlight and prompted B茅dard to come forward with her daughter鈥檚 story. She wants to put a name and a face to the tragedy.
鈥淭he newspapers said she was a young student or a young woman from Quebec City 鈥� she was so much more than that,鈥� says B茅dard.
鈥淪he was our whole life, my beloved daughter. It is hard for me to imagine my life without her.鈥�
B茅dard is also hoping to connect with the people who received Beausoleil鈥檚 organs.
鈥淪ome time before she left, we had discussed organ donation,鈥� said B茅dard.
鈥淪he felt that organ donation should be mandatory for everyone and that we should have to sign a card if we don鈥檛 want to donate organs.
鈥淪he had mentioned to us that she would like to donate all her organs if she died.鈥�
Beausoleil鈥檚 desires were granted and her lungs and eyes were given to new people on July 4, 2022.
B茅dard says she does not want to interfere in the lives of the recipients, but would love to know 鈥渁 little about their history, to know if they are a dad or a mom, student, grandparents even, how old they are.鈥�
She thinks connecting with the recipients would help as she continues to grieve the tragic loss of her daughter.
鈥淛ust being able to know what they are going through, what the gift has changed in their lives, would help me to give meaning to this immense loss,鈥� says B茅dard.
If you think you may be the person who received Beausoleil鈥檚 organs, email B茅dard at Jasminesorgansearch@gmail.com.
BC Transplant also provides a service to connect willing donors and recipients. More information can be found at transplant.bc.ca/donor-families.
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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