Parents seek answers after son drowns on school trip
‘I don’t want any other parent to bring their child home in body bag,’ dad says
Jeremiah Perry came to Canada in search of a brighter future. The 15year-old’s parents wanted their beloved son to have a high-powered career, one that would offer money and stability. He, however, dreamed of being a comedian.
Now the Grade 9 student’s family will never know what he could have become. Jeremiah drowned Tuesday night while on a school canoe trip in Algonquin Provincial Park, leaving behind a devastated family and questions about whether the Toronto District School Board followed proper safety procedures.
“The truth will come out,” said Jeremiah’s father, Joshua Anderson, in an interview with the Star, saying he hoped his son’s death could spark change.
“I don’t want any other parent to bring their child home in a body bag.”
Anderson saw Jeremiah for the last time Sunday morning, when the teen came to say goodbye before leaving for the trip. It was early, and Anderson said he went right back to sleep without wrapping up his son in a huge hug — something Anderson said he deeply regrets now. “Why me? Why my son?” said Anderson. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Anderson said he still can’t help but laugh whenever he mentions Jeremiah, who’d offer to pay people to listen to his side-splitting jokes. Sometimes they’d get annoyed and ask him to stop, but a few minutes later, he’d always be back at it, leaving those around him in stitches.
Jeremiah was an athlete, spending much of his spare time riding his mountain bike, Anderson said.
“He was the life of this house,” Anderson said. “He just loved life. He liked being around people. He liked making people laugh.”
Jeremiah’s body was found in a lake deep in the backcountry of Algonquin Provincial Park Wednesday, after he went underwater the night before and didn’t resurface. His older brother, Marion, was also on the trip.
Jeremiah’s father has told the media his son did not know how to swim.
In a statement issued Friday, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said it was still in the early stages of its investigation into Jeremiah’s drowning and wouldn’t comment in detail.
However, director John Malloy said students were required to pass swim and canoe skills tests to participate. Students who were unable to pass the tests weren’t allowed to go, he said.
In general, it’s TDSB practice to follow safety guidelines as set by the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association, he added. Those requirements include a minute of treading water and being able to swim 50 metres.
Malloy said the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Provincial Police are investigating and have formally requested information surrounding the trip, including swimming test information for Jeremiah.
“Jeremiah’s parents, the school board, and the greater TDSB community deserve to know what happened and we will be co-operating fully with any investigation into this matter as we believe this information is in the public interest,” Malloy said in the statement.
Speaking to the Star Friday, Monday Gala, principal of C.W. Jeffreys, said answers will come.
“The public has the right to know some of these things, but there is a time and place for that,” said Gala, citing a wish not to interfere with the police investigation.
The last group of students arrived back from Algonquin on a bus Thursday evening. Gala said he was moved by students who came back to the school to greet their peers.
One boy took off his sweatshirt to wipe the face of a crying student, he said.
“It was something to see . . . that in the face of this tragedy, that these kids can still find the strength to support one another like that,” he said.
Students continued to seek support from counsellors and peers at the school throughout Friday, officials said. Gala said counsellors will be at the school for as long as needed.
Safety requirements on school-run trips vary from school board to school board.
Under the Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines for secondary students, swimming areas must be clearly defined, free from hazards and of “suitable water temperature.” At campsites, a lifeguard must set boundaries for swimming and check the area for underwater hazards, among other provisions.
Karen Johnston, who identified herself as Jeremiah’s aunt, set up a GoFundMe page Friday to create a memorial fund. The money will be used to help the family in a time of need, it says.
Most of Jeremiah’s family lives in Guyana and plans to unite in Toronto. Any additional funds will be used to honour Jeremiah’s memory.
His family members, meanwhile, will do their best to go on without him. “He was the life of this house,” said Anderson. “We’ll never be the same without Jerry.” With files from Victoria Gibson