Memorial held for girl who drowned

Bench to be donated

Dozens of family, friends and neighbours gathered to remember 14-year-old Krystyna Maksymova Sunday night, adding to a memorial and releasing paper lanterns.

In addition to the Chinese lanterns, the community announced a memorial bench is being donated in Maksymova’s memory.

Maksymova was walking a neighbour’s dog with her younger sister beside a drainage pond near 82 Street and Chrystallina Nera Way (180 Avenue) on July 22 when the dog ran off, chasing some geese into the pond.

When Krystyna went into the pond to rescue the dog, she became overwhelmed by thick mud on the bottom. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance and died the next day. The dog survived.

Shvonne Muench, who helped organized Sunday’s event, teared up as she described how everyone came together to help heal.

“It’s not a community, it’s a family,” she said.

Valerie Omasta said she wants the family to know their neighbours will be there for them.

Mourners hugged and cried as they looked out at the pond.

The sisters, both animal lovers, had been walking neighbourhood dogs to prove to their parents they were responsible enough to have their own dog, Muench said earlier.

Nearby residents had tried to rescue the girl, but also got stuck in the mud and vegetation.

SAFETY REVIEW

The City of Edmonton said it will be conducting an internal review of safety around its stormwater management facilities following the death.

A city crew inspected the Lago Lindo pond for safety gaps last Tuesday and the city said it meets all standards for water level, vegetation, bank erosion, signs and drainage

Ellen Tian, the city’s acting branch manager of drainage services, said last week residents in the past have opposed fencing as a safety measure and the city has posted multiple signs around all of its 183 stormwater management facilities.

The lakes are designed to collect water runoff and improve water quality by collecting sediment, but are not to be used for recreation in the winter or summer.

There is a two-metre natural area between the walkway and the edge of the lake as a buffer to make sure people don’t get too close to the water, she said.