Kamloops teen Jennifer Gatey's memory to be honoured through scholarship

​The family of Jennifer Gatey is working to create a scholarship in the 16-year-old's memory.

Gatey, a South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) student, was killed in a hit and run on the evening of Nov. 4 near her home in the Kamloops neighbourhood of Pacific Way.

Her father, Cameron Gatey, said the family is working with his daughter's high school and the Thompson Rivers University Foundation to help establish a fund in her memory.

"We want it to be a community exercise where kids going from SKSS to Thompson Rivers University can take advantage of this scholarship," he told Daybreak Kamloops guest host Doug Herbert.

Community kindness

Gatey said the community has reached out to his family in a number of ways since his daughter's death. 

"I wish I had the time to thank every person who has been so kind and caring and thoughtful towards us," said Gatey.

"In communities like Kamloops, there's a deep caring for our neighbours," he said. "When something like this happens, those feelings come pouring to the surface."

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Community members have also been lighting candles at a make-shift memorial that has been created on the street where Jennifer was hit.

Cameron Gatey said he goes to the site every night to make sure the candles are lit, and often arrives to find them already burning, which he feels is a testament to the community's kindness.

"There's lots of people in our neighbourhood that beat me to it each evening."

On Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. the family will be holding a celebration of life for Jennifer at the Summit Baptist Church in Sahali and the event is open to the public.

"There may be a lot of people that show up and that's a risk that we're prepared to take," said Gatey. "This tragedy has affected the whole of the community.

"We really want them to come and celebrate the life that she did have and to think about the future with respect to something like this scholarship fund."

Investigation continues

While the community prepares for the celebration of life, Kamloops RCMP are still accepting tips in the hit-and-run death. 

"Kamloops RCMP are fully engaged in this investigation. Day to day, we're working on it," said Const. Jodi Shelkie.

Police are still waiting for forensic results to come back from a jeep that officers consider a possible suspect vehicle.

Anyone with more information is asked to call Kamloops RCMP or Crimestoppers.

With files from CBC Radio One's Daybreak Kamloops

​To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Jenn Gatey's memory honoured through scholarship