Bishop’s mourning a loss

Ben Houtman, a fourth-year student in Bishop’s University’s Williams School of Business, was killed in an accidental fall while on a trip to the Dominican Republic last Friday. Although details of the accident are limited, a joint statement put out by the school and Houtman’s parents explains that the student had travelled with 30 other Bishop’s Students to the Hamaca Beach resort in Santo Domingo.

"We are shattered and grieving the loss of our only son,” the student’s parents write in the statement. “It was an unfortunate accident that could have happened anytime, anywhere.”

Houtman’s parents describe him as an active and involved person who loved “bringing people together”

In a message sent out to the Bishop’s community on Sunday afternoon the university’s Principal, Michael Goldbloom, described the accident as a tragedy and said that the loss would be felt throughout the school

“Ben was a very thoughtful and positive person with a wide circle of friends,” Goldbloom wrote, adding that the Stine Linden Anderson, the school’s Dean of Student Affairs, has gone to the Dominican Republic to provide support to the student’s family and the other Bishop’s students involved. The school’s counseling staff has been made available to anyone who needs support.

Although the trip included a large number of Bishop’s students, it was not a university organized activity.

In the 2016-17 academic year, the Bishop’s University community faced three unexpected deaths in Dr. Gerry Coulter and students Tuan Luu and Clinton Munkittrick. Although each died under different circumstances that were unrelated to any university activity, each left its mark upon the school.

Principal Goldbloom was not available on Monday to comment on how the school will be working to respond to Houtman’s death as time moves forward, but Denise Lauziere, his chief of staff, said that a vigil will be planned after students return from their March break next week.