Family members of Tytiana Janvier, the 21-year-old woman whose body was found in a Lac La Biche house last Thursday say community support has helped to raise $6,000 for funeral costs and family support.
A GoFundMe page, a square board number raffle and various donations have so far helped to raise funds and awareness towards the young woman's death, said her great-auntie, Shana LaBoucane.
RCMP say the body of a 21-year-old woman was found inside a lakeshore home along Lac La Biche's Churchill Drive last Thursday. Since the discovery, RCMP have been investigating the case, but have yet to announce the cause of death or if any charges will be laid. RCMP have not officially released the name of the deceased, but family members have confirmed it was Janvier.
In the days since the discovery, many friends and family members of Janvier have stepped up to offer support.
“The girl’s just started this yesterday and they're up to $6,100 already—just in two days,” said LaBoucane on Tuesday night during a vigil for the young woman held at a Bonesville residence where Janvier had been staying before her death. “It’s going for her funeral costs, her flowers, grave, for a wake, groceries and anything else needed to lay her beautiful soul to rest.”
LaBoucane’s daughter, Kim LaBoucane-Monias, and Janvier’s aunt, Alyssa Bugle, have been organizing the fundraisers to not only support the funeral costs but to support the 21-year-old’s family in this “devastating time,” said Bugle.
“Everybody has been sharing this profile, honestly it's been good. It goes for the family and whatever they need for the funeral costs and just to give her the funeral she deserves. She deserves to be buried with love and a beautiful coffin,” said Bugle.
Remembering Janvier
Tuesday night’s vigil, the second one held since Sunday in the community, drew hundreds to the Bonesville subdivision, located five kilometres south of the hamlet of Lac La Biche, to remember and honour Janvier.
The Bonesville subdivision is where an encampment was created last summer in a partnership between the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Region 1 and Lac La Biche County. The location houses more than a dozen vulnerable area residents in small cabins, providing them with basic needs, a communal cooking area, temporary washroom facilities, a large firepit and transportation to and from Lac La Biche. The site is where the 21-year-old had most recently been calling home, said her mother, Tavia Janvier.
“I wanted it to be held out here because it was by the fire which she loved,” Tavia told Lakeland This Week during Tuesday night’s firelit vigil. “We spent a lot of time out here together."
The outpouring of community support during this difficult time has been overwhelming said Tavia, explaining that the music, drums, prayers and ceremonies during Tuesday night's vigil are exactly what her daughter would have wanted.
“She's going to be missed a lot. For everybody coming out here, I really appreciate it. The drummers that came out; it was very beautiful,” said Tavia, a mother of two other children. “My kids were here, my nieces and family were here. The outcome was very beautiful. Especially, around the fire. She loved making fires. She would stay outside all night if she had to, because she loved the outdoors.”
Although all the support, vigils and donations have helped her feel looked after, Tavia says that losing her daughter and waiting for answers in her death is “devastating.”
“I’m so exhausted and drained from all this thinking and everything. I'm very tired. I still never got positive answers yet, it’s hard,” she said. “I’m hearing two different stories and I just don’t know what to believe, so I’m looking into it. I have a lot of people on my side and they’re looking into it.”
Local and provincial RCMP have issued two short news releases in connection to the death. Currently, the case is still under investigation and an autopsy was completed on Tuesday at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton. Following the autopsy, RCMP say the cause of death is pending further test results.
While the family waits for answers, Tavia says she wants everyone to know how special her daughter was and how she will be missed.
“She’s touched a lot of people's hearts and she’s outgoing. Laughter is a very good thing and she always made everybody laugh…she’s a sweetheart,” said Tavia.
For Janvier’s family members who have helped to organize the vigils and fundraisers, Bugle says the community has been at the core of support during this difficult time.
“I have come to know this town and there were many people from all races that came together. This is what makes my heart so full,” she said at Tuesday night’s vigil. “There is no hate, it’s all love…you could feel the peace again tonight.”
How to support
To support Tytiana Janvier’s funeral costs through the square board raffle or to donate directly, contact Alyssa Bugle on Facebook, or donate directly to the GoFundMe profile.
