'I feel the pain:' Funeral held for Humboldt radio announcer Tyler Bieber
Bieber one of 16 people killed in Humboldt Broncos bus crash
The first funeral for the victims of a deadly Saskatchewan bus crash was held Thursday.
Tyler Bieber was killed last week when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team was involved in a collision with a semi-trailer near Tisdale, Sask. Sixteen people who were on the bus have died and 13 were injured.
Bieber was a play-by-play radio announcer for the team and also worked as a broadcaster for 107.5 Bolt FM.
Outside the ceremony, Bieber's former neighbour remembered him as a good man.
"I knew him as a very soft person," said Jennifer Lawrence. "They were very, very sweet people."
As a mother, Lawrence wanted to offer her condolences to the Bieber family.
"I feel the pain everybody is going through," she said. "It could have happened to anybody."
Community in mourning
Meanwhile, workers at Humboldt Florist are incredibly busy. Orders have been pouring in from well-wishers around the world, hoping to make the community feel a little better.
"We have no scale for this," said florist Ruth Brinkman. "It's beyond our comprehension, really. Everyone's doing the best they can."
Even though Brinkman knew people who died in the crash, she hasn't had much time to stop.
"You're just in the mode of trying to help the community and we just keep doing what we're doing. Our hands are busy, our hearts are heavy."
Veteran Saskatoon Blades announcer Les Lazaruk said on Twitter Thursday that he wants to call a Humboldt Broncos game free of charge next season in memory of Bieber.
Sitting in the stands at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TylerBieber?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TylerBieber</a> funeral. Most seats are filled. Caught a ride here with <a href="https://twitter.com/Beuf1950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Beuf1950</a>...can't thank him enough for that. Even though I never met Tyler, I felt I should be here! His tragic death affects all of us...
—@Bladesvoice...58 regular-season games in 2018-19 and I hope 57 other broadcasters step up and do the same in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TylerBieber?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TylerBieber</a>'s memory...especially the former <a href="https://twitter.com/HumboldtBroncos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HumboldtBroncos</a> broadcasters. <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianMunzTSN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianMunzTSN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ClarkStork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClarkStork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/branden_crowe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@branden_crowe</a>, etc.
—@BladesvoiceMore funerals Friday
This was Bieber's first season announcing for the Broncos. He also covered morning news for the station.
Bieber also coached the Humboldt high school's basketball and football teams.
Forever grateful for the support of one of our biggest fans. <br><br>Our thoughts are with the Bieber family and the entire Humboldt community. RIP, Tyler. <a href="https://t.co/vOaho4WpJw">pic.twitter.com/vOaho4WpJw</a>
—@PatriotsFunerals for players Jacob Leicht and Adam Herold will be held Friday.
Bieber's funeral was held Thursday at 10 a.m. CST at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt.
