Memorial bench brought to Spahats Falls following young woman’s death

“I got there, and there was absolutely nothing to show that she even mattered. There were no flowers, there were no signs, there was nothing to even acknowledge the fact that she had passed away just a few days before,” McRae says. “I went across the way and I was looking over to where she would have fallen from. I look down below, right to where she would have landed, and there was a rainbow. I just kind of gasped, and it brought me so much peace, I thought ‘Wow’. It kind of brought back the beauty of the falls.”

After seeing the lack of remembrance, McRae chose to take action, and began looking into getting a bench set up.

“Of course, it’s quite expensive to do, and I don’t have the money, and I know that Kelvin Harrison (Moraya’s father), none of us have the money, he just finished paying for the funeral,” McRae says. “So I basically just put up the GoFundMe page, and it just went fantastic. We raised the money in absolutely no time at all and I was able to get the bench.”

Along with Moraya’s name on the bench, the family of her late boyfriend, Devon Smeeton, had agreed to have his name put on there next to hers.

“Moraya’s soul mate was Devon Smeeton, and Devon had passed away the August prior to her at a young age, to an accident as well.” McRae explains, “Devon of course, didn’t pass away up there, but we just thought it was so appropriate to put them both there. And I know that the Smeetons are going to go up there this weekend now that’s its done, and spend some time.”

While the bench is meant to bring peace and provide small comfort for those grieving, McRae says Moraya’s father has yet to visit.

“He’s not ready to go, and I don’t blame him. He’s her dad, it is really overwhelming when you see how far she really fell,” McRae says. “But at the same time, when he’s ready, I know he will find so much peace going up there.”

McRae says all of Moraya’s family, especially Kelvin, are grateful to have support during this time.

“The fact that there’s so many people that care about her that they donated, and now have a place that they can go. I know that means the world to him, and I know that he would like me to make sure I express that he is saying thank you to everybody.”

In a message, Moraya’s father, Kelvin says:

“Moraya was a great kid and an exceptional athlete. She excelled at everything she took on. Moraya had a huge heart and would help anyone who was in need. She could run like the wind and was a fierce competitor, especially on the soccer pitch. Moraya was planning on moving to the coast and going to SFU to study finance this school year but unfortunately we lost her to this tragic accident at Spahats Falls. I miss Moraya every day and warmly put my hand on her urn of ashes every morning and then again, saying goodnight before bed. I would like to thank everyone who donated to get the memorial bench done.”

by Dylana Milobar

Memorial bench brought to Spahats Falls following young woman’s death

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