Our Thoughts Are With The St. Onge Boys

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

Many of the member on this site know Rene St. Onge and Raymond St. Onge.

On Dec 27th their parents house burnt to the ground and both parents are currently in the hospital in Vancouver with expectations to recover.
For those of us riding with Team SledbunnyRacing we've had the opportunity to hang out with the St. Onge parents - awesome folks I must say.

Please say a prayer for the St. Onge family as it will be a very long Christmas.

 

[rknight111]

Ric called me on this just now as well. Are thoughts are with you all at this time. Got to know Ray and Rene's parents in Sicamous when we head there every year and stay at the Wee Troll in, they always come by for a visit. Nice folks. Hope they recover ok.
Looks like there house and everything is gone. We will have to band together to help them somehow.

 

[BC Sno-Ghost]

I don't know them but sounds like a crappy situation. Thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery

 

[rknight111]

Rene owns Eagle Valley Lodge in Sicamous. And Eagle Valley marine and storage. Its a buiding on your left if your heading from Edmonton just before Sicamous. If your coming from the other direction it will be on your right just as you leave Sicamous.

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

Here is a news cast done by Angie (Rene St. Onge's Wife) regarding the fire.
News Video About Fire -

 

[Murminator]

Sad story......WTF is fire protection area????

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

I spoke with Raymond this morning and here is what I know (If I misunderstood any of the info I apologize).
Mrs. St. Onge heard the fire and let Mr. St. Onge know.
The building was fully engulfed and the door knobs were too hot to touch.
The roof was collapsing and they were struggling to get out but finally dislodged a deadbolt to escape.
Mr. St. Onge was taken to a local hospital and released fairly quickly. He was later found to have more serous burns than first thought along with damage to his voice box from the fire and has burns to the face, arm and her back. He was re-admitted in Vancouver (when he went to see Mrs. St. Onge) and has been released with daily bandage changes at the local hospital.
Mrs. St. Onge had more sever burned and swelling to the windpipe from smoke and heat. She was flown immediate to Vancouver's burn unit. She has burns to the face, arm and her back. She has been moved to a local hospital and is still recovering. There is a chance she may lose some fingers or her hand due to the damage.

Due to the location of their home they did not have insurance coverage so they have "Nothing".

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

Sad story......WTF is fire protection area????

If your to far from a fire station you can be deemed outside the fire protections area. If you remember the fires in Kelowna a few years ago, many folks did not have insurance
The reason - many insurance companies will not insure you and if they will you simply can't afford it.

 

[beeonaplug]

If your to far from a fire station you can be deemed outside the fire protections area. If you remember the fires in Kelowna a few years ago, many folks did not have insurance
The reason - many insurance companies will not insure you and if they will you simply can't afford it.

That's terrible what happend. I know Rene well, but don't think I've met his parents. Sure wish them a speedy recovery.

That fire protection thing is really a dumb thing. The closest fire hall is only a few km. up the road and still they deem it outside the fire protection, thus putting the insurance costs threw the roof. Imagine not having fire protection in a trailer park! And yet I am sure they all pay taxes.

 

[Summitric]

There will be some sort of fundraiser in the future in Revelstoke -- date to be deteremined, and it will be posted on this site -- to help get the St. Onge parents on their feet again. Basically they have nothing left for a home etc........ It literally burned to the ground, leaving them homeless

 

[I Dare Ya Rene!]

Just want to thank all the people on here for the calls and help my parents have received, you don't know how much it is valued. Special thanks to all the guys at the lodge who donated to my parents! All the boys from Team Strug-lin, Butter Ripple Gang, Shane and his whole group, Robin, Joe and John Valente.
We are working on a 50/50 and will have tickets soon, also putting on a large Social, probably in Revy in the near future.
Mom and Dad are 68 and 63 and lost everything, but they are alive.

Being an avid sledder and having an unquenchable passion for the sport I have had the opportunity to make hundreds of lifelong friends. I know the media and public often portray us as inbred, boozing, rednecks who have little regard for the environment. At times like this it glaringly apparent how wrong they are!
I believe we as group love shredding the pow, and high-marking a virgin hill on a sunny day, but live and breathe this winter sport for the friends we share it with. The relationships go beyond sledding and teasing each other in the chalet about the brand they ride! We all know the friends in this sport support each other beyond the sport as if they were family.
I realized the connection sledders have many years ago, but have thought about it lots since my parents fire and observed all the people who have come forward for support and offering their help.

Thanks again, Rene.