Little known island, now forever linked to BC’s maritime history

The Vancouver Sun published a story on Saturday prior to the official remembrance at Gil Rock, the last resting place of two passengers from the ill fated Queen of the North.

The families of Shirley Rosette and Gerald Foisy were set to take part in a final farewell to their family members, with a private service to commemorate their deaths.

The Sun article looked back at a very sad and tragic year for the two families.

Memorial today for couple lost in ferry sinking
CanWest News Service
Saturday, March 24, 2007

GIL ISLAND - Little known before the sinking of BC Ferries' Queen of North last March, remote Gil Island on the central coast will be the site today of a memorial service for the two passengers believed to have died in the sinking.

Two white metal crosses in memory of Shirley Rosette and Gerald Foisy will be unveiled. Friends of the couple from 100 Mile House made the crosses, which were put in place by BC Ferries.

Albert Jack, Rosette's brother-in-law, and much of the extended family will be among those seeing for themselves the area where the ferry sank March 22 en route from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy.

Jack, who lives about 60 kilometres west of Williams Lake, said the main focus for the family in recent weeks has been preparing to travel to the weekend ceremony. Rosette's sons, Brandon, 21, and Brent, 16, will also be there.

The Foisy family in Penticton could not be reached for comment.

Jack said the past year has been hard on those close to the couple, so the special service promises to be meaningful.

"There's quite a few of the family members on both sides that will be going," Jack said. "The biggest thing behind it is that we're trying to get close to some closure on this, and it's a one-year memorial.

"We're really looking forward to getting this done, so it's one more phase that's over with for us. We probably won't have to be going back there for anything other than visiting with people we've gotten close to through this."

He said the family's native background -- Rosette was a member of the Shuswap Nation -- has helped in establishing a close connection with the Gitga'at of Hartley Bay, whose residents helped get ferry passengers to shore.

"They gave us all kinds of help."

One lingering issue for his family is the fact that neither Rosette nor Foisy has been officially declared dead. That means no survivor benefits as yet, and something of a financial bind for Brandon and Brent.

The situation prompted Jack to start a fund for his nephews, in particular to help defray the expense of getting to the Gil Island ceremony. The Rosette Family Fund is coordinated through the Williams Lake and District Credit Union.

© The Vancouver Sun 2007