Memorial fund growing as community mourns loss of two hikers

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on August 1, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A memorial fund for two men who lost their lives in a hiking accident last week continues to grow as their family, friends and members of the community grieve their losses.
On Friday a memorial fund page for Jonah Swen and Greg Gaudette was created by Swen’s spouse Grace Garratt with the proceeds being 100 per cent given to Gaudette’s wife Colby to be put into a trust for Gaudette’s son ,13-month-old Kace.
In the gofundme page, Garrett wrote “First and foremost, I wish I could thank each and every one of you for your staggering generosity. We are overwhelmed by the love and support we have been shown.”
She adds that she has been asked about the decision to give Gaudette’s wife the proceeds of the fund, saying “Jonah was an honourary uncle to so many of his friends kids, Kace being one of them. Jonah and Greg loved each other to the ends of the earth. Jonah’s siblings and I feel very strongly that putting 100 per cent of the proceeds from this fundraiser into a trust for Greg’s son Kace would have been what Jonah would want.”
As of Monday afternoon the fund was a few hundred dollars short of $60,000 from over 560 donations.
Crowsnest RCMP said on Friday that on Wednesday around 10 p.m. they were advised that two men who were hiking along the North York Creek Plane Crash Trail outside of Coleman were overdue.
RCMP, along with Search and Rescue, conducted both an air and ground search.On Thursday, at about 7 p.m. SAR found both hikers dead at the bottom of a ridge at Mount Coulthard.
Long Line Helicopter of Fernie attended the scene and recovered the bodies of the two men who were both in their mid 30s.
Swen’s obituary highlights how he loved helping others and could always be counted on to help in any difficult situation. It says that Swen found his passion for EMS early in life, and exemplified duty and commitment to care for every patient lucky enough to be cared for by him.
 The obituary states that his family would especially like to thank Lethbridge Search and Rescue (LASARA), Fernie Search and Rescue, Sparwood Search and Rescue, Wildlife Conservation, and Crowsnest Pass RCMP Chris McKerracher and Natalie Stevenson for their exhaustive efforts in locating Swen and Gaudette and ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to LASARA, Sparwood Search and Rescue, Fernie Search and Rescue or the Jonah Swen and Greg Gaudette Memorial Fund. 
Gaudette’s obituary highlights how he was a devoted and loving husband, father, son and friend. 
 It says Gaudette served his Lethbridge community for the last nine years as a firefighter paramedic. He had previously worked as a paramedic elsewhere throughout the province. 
He found joy in life through activities with others.
 It also states that his willingness to adventure and try new things allowed him to see much of the world in such a short time. Through his career, Gaudette met his wife Colby and they were married in July 2019. Later, in June of 2022, they were blessed with their son Kace, who became the greatest joy in his life. 
 On his obituary the family expresses that it brings them peace knowing that he was not alone and passed doing something he loved, with one of his best friends.
A celebration of Swen’s life will be held at the Lethbridge Exhibition grounds – South Pavilion, 3401 Parkside Drive South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, at 1 p.m.  The celebration of life will be live-streamed and available for viewing on Jonah’s obituary on the Cornerstone website. 
 A celebration of Gaudette’s life will be held at Readymade Community Centre, Township Road 90, Cranford, AB, on Wednesday from 1 to 4p.m. 
Those wishing to donate to the memorial fund page for Jonah Swen and Greg Gaudette can do so at
 https://www.gofundme.com/f/jonah-swen-and-greg-gaudette?fbclid=IwAR0ZnCNRvWVzy0I1F57yxWwUcdQc-nUNAuU7WFZzIqknshxODZ4f7S7GsLc

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