Leviathan II survivors' special thank you takes shape in Ahousaht

Standing on the beach in Ahousaht, B.C.,Dwayne Mazereeuwlooks at the choppy waters off Vancouver Island's west coastthat nearly took his life a year ago.

"This place has a special place in our hearts now,"Mazereeuwsays. "We have a very unique and deep connection."

Mazereeuw, 36,and his wife Elisa Kasha, 34, of Calgarywere enjoying a Tofinowhale-watching excursionaboard the Leviathan IIwhen the boat suddenly capsized and they were tossed into the frigidwater.

• Tofinoboat rescue triggered by single flare that almost wasn't seen
• Leviathan II whale-watching survivors plan special thank you forAhousahtrescuers

A year after a whale-watching tragedy near Tofino, B.C.

8 years ago

Duration 1:10

Skateboard park connects survivors of whale-watching tragedy with rescuers

Thecouplemanaged to cling to aflotation ring for what felt like an hour untilawater taxi from the village ofAhousahtarrived andpulled them on board.

"It's not anything we will ever forget. It's going to affect us for the rest of our lives," said Mazereeuw.

The water taxioperated byMichelle and Francis Campbell was one of several vesselsfrom Ahousaht and other local communitiesthat rushed to help.In total, 21 peoplewere rescued but six people passed away.

Following that traumatic day,Mazereeuw was looking for a way to say thankyou to the people of Ahousaht for the heroic rescue effort.

Thenhe heard about a campaign by the Vancouver company Landyachtzto build a skatepark foryouth in the remote community.

Mazereeuw, whohappens todesignskateparks for a living for New Line Skateparks,jumped at the chance to help even though travellingto Ahousaht meantgetting back on a boaton the waters that nearly took his life.

"Initially after the accident, I didn't know if we would ever come back out here, if we would ever want to," he says.

"I get very nervous to come out and take a boat trip. But every time I feel a bit better."

Mazereeuw'swillingnessto travel back to the region, even though it meansovercomingany lingering fear of the water,is not lost on the people of Ahousaht.

"I love that he is here, that he is open to coming to the community," saysPattiCampbell, deputy chiefcouncillorfor theAhousahtFirst Nation

"We didn't ask anything of him. He offered to help do this for us."

'Deep connections'

Mazereeau is now on his third visit to Ahousahtand this time he will be here for several weeks to oversee construction ofthe skatepark.

Spending time in the communityhas also given himthe chance to connectwith rescuers like Ken Brown and Clarence Smith,the fishermen whospotted the only flare the crew of theLeviathan II managed to deploy.

"It's pretty cool. I'm touched by it, really," Ken Brown says while watching the start of construction on Ahousaht's skatepark."I'm glad some good has come out of what we did a year ago."

Unique challenges

Skateboarding is a new sport for kids in Ahousaht. It started to take off afteroutreach worker Grant Shilling fromCumberland, B.C., convinced Landyachtz to donate some longboards andhelmets.

When the company realized there was only one paved road to ride on in Ahousaht, it made a financial donation and launched an online fundraising campaign to build theskatepark.

"This community has its own set of unique challenges, one of them being isolation and just access to sporting facilities and activities,"says Shilling, avolunteerwith thenon-profitGet On Board thatuses board sports to help young people develop confidence and life skills.

"It's about meeting the kids where they are and skateboarding is cool."

The skatepark project is expected to take about five weeks. All the construction materials and concrete for the park will have to arrive by barge.

"It is a unique build, for sure," Mazereeuw says. "There's definitely some extra logistics involved."

Commemorative plaque

The community of Tofinoplansto paytribute to the victims of the Leviathan II tragedy on Tuesday afternoon with a ceremonyatthe First Street Dock to unveil acommemorative plaque.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada continues to investigate what caused the boat to capsize. It's expected to release its findings next year.

Several civil lawsuits were also launched by survivors and family members of those who died. Those cases remain before the courts.