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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.