On the morning of Feb. 22, 2016, The Ontarion received tragic news that one of our own passed away over the weekend. Kaya Firth, a fourth-year English major at the University of Guelph, died in a kayaking accident on Sunday at the age of 21. Zach Sutherland, Kaya’s boyfriend and a fourth-year commerce student at the University of Guelph, also died in the same incident.
Kaya began working as the Sports & Health Editor for The Ontarion in September 2015, where she made a strong, positive impact in our office and brought smiles to the faces of all who had the pleasure of working with her. Her passion and dedication were immediately evident in the way she conducted herself both inside and outside of the office. Kaya’s adventurous spirit, her willingness to learn, and her profound kindness characterized her time in our office, and she will not be forgotten. Our staff, our volunteers, and the members of the University of Guelph community will remember her fondly.
Our deepest condolences go out to the Firth and Sutherland families, and all those affected by this devastating news. The Ontarion will continue to respectfully honour her memory and remember the vibrant, glowing spirit she brought into our lives.
–Emilio Ghloum, Editor-in-Chief (2015/2016)