April 27, 2009
Contact: Melissa Beedle
604-504-7441 , local 4141
Cell: 778-895-4896
melissa.beedle@ufv.ca
| Bench designer Penny Morden (centre) and Rick Bell with Ruth Simpson were part of a special ceremony where a memorial bench to Jen Simpson was unveiled last week. Jen, a rower with UFV Cascades, died in a tragic auto accident last year. |
Bench honours memory of devoted UFV student Family and friends of former UFV student
Jen Simpson will always have a place to reflect on their memories of Jen, thanks to a memorial bench built on UFV’s Abbotsford campus outside the Envision Athletic Centre.
Dozens of friends and family members gathered recently to unveil the Jen Simpson Memorial Bench, made in part from wood from Jen’s bunk bed. A plaque will soon be affixed to the ground in front of the bench with her name inscribed and an artist’s sketch of Jen’s picture.
“The idea for Jen’s bench came from her friends who wanted a place to visit that would remind them of Jen and what a tremendous person she was,” said Jen’s mother
Ruth Simpson. “The accident site was too dangerous for people to visit for any length of time. We decided a memorial bench at her beloved university would be the perfect place to remember Jen.”
The bench is also surrounded by a landscape of plants and a Japanese cherry tree, symbolizing feminine beauty and the fleeting nature of life.
“I could not think of anything more representative of Jennifer than this beautiful tree,” added Ruth. “As the petals blossom and then fall, they will forever remind of us of the incredible beauty of this young lady and how quickly she was taken from us.”
While driving home from work January 27, 2008, Jen Simpson tragically died in a car accident likely caused by icy road conditions. She was 20 years old at the time.
“Jen’s spirit and love of life will forever be remembered,” said UFV student and Jen's best friend Caitlin Shaw. “She always brought life to the people around her and made an impression on every person she met. If it weren’t for her, I never would have attended university or UFV in particular.”
Simpson’s parents and friends also established an athletic leadership award to support future UFV students exhibiting leadership qualities in UFV’s athletic program and in the greater community. The award will provide recipients with $1,000 every year in perpetuity.
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