Friends mourn father and son killed in Aylmer house fire
A father and his son are dead after an early Wednesday morning fire in an Aylmer home.
Emergency crews responded to a call around 4:45 a.m. for a fire on Parker Street. Police evacuated nearby homes as a precautionary measure due to the size of the fire.
Gatineau police say two people were found unconscious inside the home and were taken to hospital.
Raymond Prest, 85, and Jean-Marc Prest, 67, later died in hospital.
Wednesday night friends and loved ones gathered at the site of the fire, sharing stories and hugs for those they lost.
Guy Rochon, who was a long time friend of Raymond Prest, said the community had lost someone who would give the shirt of his back to anyone who needed it.
“He was a great, great man and so was his son. It’s sad to see them to leave the world. They were great, great people,” Rochon said. “We hunted together, we fished together, we played ball together, I know I’m only 71 and he was 85, but he was one of my best friends.”
Alice Blais, Raymond Prest’s girlfriend of 15 years, was heartbroken he and his son were gone.
“He was a proud man, a lovely man, a lovely smile. He was sick for the past year and he had a hip replacement but we were starting to dance again together,” Blais said.
“Oh Ray keep a dance for me up there…I’m coming up, I’m going to dance with you.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.