Memorial bench now installed in Finnerty Gardens

A new bench is now in place in the heart of Finnerty Gardens. It stands in remembrance of two of our students, Emma Machado of Winnipeg and John Geerdes of Iowa City, who passed away in September 2019 after a tragic bus accident on the road to Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

Map of Finnerty Gardens (walking tour)

A place of remembrance and reflection

This tranquil spot now serves as a special place of quiet reflection for those who walk the trails and seek the solace of Finnerty Gardens.

The natural setting is especially important. The families of John and Emma had asked that the other students on the bus the night of Sept. 13, 2019 be the ones to guide the decision on how to remember their two classmates. The choice of a physical memorial outdoors reflects John and Emma’s appreciation of nature and their interest in learning about the natural environment.

We will never forget Emma and John. What happened on Sept. 13 was heart-rending. We are deeply appreciative of the advice we received last year from some of their classmates on the best way to proceed with physically marking our remembrance of John and Emma on campus.

– Jim Dunsdon, UVic’s associate vice-president of student affairs

At the start of last term, the university solemnly marked one year since the accident by reaching out with a message to the university community. (See Sept. 11 update)

UVic also shared information at the time on its progress with implementing recommendations on decisions surrounding future field trips.

UVic expects to share another update in the coming weeks.

Visiting the gardens

All visitors are asked to observe the guidelines for safe enjoyment of Finnerty Gardens during the pandemic.

More about Finnerty Gardens and COVID-19