Thompson MLA mourned at Manitoba legislature

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This article was published 12/12/2021 (1063 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba flag was draped over the back of her chair as MLAs gathered Monday behind a photo and a bouquet at the desk where Danielle Adams sat in the chamber of the provincial legislature.

The 38-year-old NDP member for Thompson, who died Thursday in a highway accident while driving to Winnipeg, was mourned in a short, solemn ceremony.

Her colleagues came together in the house, where NDP Leader Wab Kinew said a prayer in Ojibwa and paid tribute to Adams in English after NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine and government house leader Kelvin Goertzen draped the Manitoba flag over the back of Adams’ chair.

Longtime Liberal MLA Jon Gerrard and others from the two main parties hugged and shook hands at the end of the memorial.

In a scrum with reporters, Kinew thanked the house leaders and Gerrard for facilitating the event.

“I think it was important for us to pay tribute to a great person and a wonderful MLA who departed too soon, and also to give folks who are mourning Danielle at least some outlet for what they’re feeling right now,” the leader of the official Opposition said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Danielle’s family as they go through this difficult time. We’re doing everything we can to support them through this.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up to raise $30,000 for an education fund for Adams’ two young sons, Nic and Joe.

“Danielle believed strongly in the value of a proper education for all children and had been planning for her children’s futures from the day they were born,” the webpage says. “Let’s all reach out and help her dreams for her kids come true.

“Let’s remember her hard work, the things she accomplished and love and kindness she has put out in the world.”

It had raised just over $3,000 by midday Monday.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca