Bettina Schuurmans passed away after a collision in Saskatchewan
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Members of Canada’s farm community are sending supportive messages after a tragic accident claimed the life of an Elmira, Ont. dairy farmer.
Bettina Schuurmans, who was on a cross-country tour with her husband Henk promoting supply management, died after a tractor trailer collided with the couple’s John Deere 6430 tractor. The accident happened yesterday on Highway 16 between Saskatoon and Langham, Sask.
Paramedics transported Henk to a hospital with critical injuries but his condition has stabilized.
Canada’s farming community is saddened by Bettina’s passing.
“Henk and Bettina are not just fellow farmers, but friends, and the loss of Bettina and the injuries to Henk are very painful,” Joy Smith, policy and communications manager with SaskMilk, said in a statement yesterday.
“It’s such a tragedy because they were doing something that was so good and something they believed in,” Wendell Schumm, a family friend, told CTV News yesterday.
Henk and Bettina Schuurmans
Photo: Milky Wave Inc
Several other individuals and ag organizations have posted messages of support on social media.
“I don’t know the Schuurmans personally but was enjoying the (Canadian Milk Tour) as they made their stops,” Kevin Antonsen, a dairy farmer and past president of the British Columbia Holstein Branch, posted on Twitter today. “I pray that Henk recovers fully from his injuries and Bettina’s memory will be a blessing to all family and friends.”
The community is also supporting the family through a GoFundMe page.