Mother of killed Red Deer cyclist pleads for culprit to come forward

“This person has devastated our whole family, and all her friends. If they have an ounce of conscience or decency, they need to come forward and own up to what they did. Give our family some modicum of peace,” pleads Lawrence, who thanks the public for providing numerous tips to RCMP and Crime Stoppers.

“It’s unconscionable you’d do something so horrific and not stop to help, or see what you did. It’s something we’ll have to live with for the rest of our lives, and so will the driver. Someone who knows something needs to turn him or her in.”

RCMP tell rdnewsNOW that as of August 5, there is no new information to share.

The incident occurred at about 6:45 p.m. the night of July 6 on the 40 Avenue (RR 273) extension near McKenzie Road.

The suspect vehicle description is as follows:

· A dark sedan, potentially a BMW

· After-market rims (described as cheap looking)

· Older model

· Dark grey or black matte; poor paint job

· Significant front end damage, specifically to the windshield

The second vehicle description is as follows:

· White SUV

· Drove off the road to avoid a collision

Lawrence says Heather was supposed to drive to B.C. the next day for a family get-together; bags were packed and meals were planned.

Instead, the family was planning a funeral, and left to mire in a massive, “black hole of grief.”

“She was so dedicated to family. We texted daily, and spoke often on video. Now my phone beeps and it’s never her, which hurts so deeply. She’d come to the Okanagan, recharge and ride her bike up to SilverStar as part of her ongoing training. She’d talk to her sister Amanda every Sunday, and drive to Edmonton to visit her brother,” Lawrence says, noting Heather had no immediate family.

“She also had four nieces and nephews, and was a hands-on auntie. She promised the four of them — and had done it with two — that when they each turned 11, she’d fly them out and spend the week with them; she took them to Drumheller, Calgary Zoo, the Wibit at Sylvan Lake, and had ice cream every day. Our eight-year-old granddaughter was already looking forward to it.”

Heather Lawrence (back row, middle-right) is pictured with her family. (Supplied)

After getting her education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Heather, who was 45, moved to Red Deer in 2004.

After working at Red Deer Regional Hospital for a time, she called mom up one day.

“Mom, I got my dream job working with kids at Children’s Rehabilitation Services,” Lawrence recalls her daughter proudly sharing.

“She’d talk about her ‘kiddos,’ and how she was helping with this program called You Can Ride 2, which would teach children how to ride a bike when families were struggling because of the childrens’ respective physical challenges. She called me one day so excited because one of her kiddos had learned to ride, and the child was so excited too. She really did love her job.”

Heather was also a long-time member of the Central Alberta Bicycle Club and took part in the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation’s 12 Hour Ride, as well as the MS Bike ride.

The next 12 Hour Ride will be in Heather’s honour, with funds raised going to pediatric services, says Manon Therriault, the foundation’s CEO and, more importantly, Heather’s best friend.

The pair were supposed to do the upcoming Whistler Gran Fondo together, but brother Shane will now ride in Heather’s stead.

“There seems to be a fairly common opinion among motorists about how cyclists shouldn’t be on the road, when in reality, they have every right to be,” says Therriault. “If that opinion means you’re willing to take the risk of killing someone, just because you don’t want to share the road… well, just because you don’t want to share roads with cyclists doesn’t mean you don’t have to. Opinions don’t opt you out of a crime at the end of the day.”

(Supplied)

The Bicycle Club is looking at purchasing and raising awareness about Smart Headlights, which attach to the back of a bicycle and not only record video, but alert riders if a vehicle is approaching.

“The willingness among riders to be on the road has changed since Heather’s death,” says Therriault.

For Marlene, she’ll always have memories of a 2017 mother-daughter trip to Ireland; and others of Heather playing Barbies and Minecraft with the kids, shared family Christmases, family walks in the mountains and so much more.

“If her father Stu or I were not well, she’d be here first because she could get here more easily than her two siblings who have families,” she says. “Stu recently had to have cancer treatment, and it’s going well. Heather had phoned and said she’d come out for his first treatment, to which he’d said that he thought he’d be fine and she didn’t have to. But she insisted. She was here for that in May, and that was the last time we saw her alive.”

“Our family hopes Heather’s death won’t be in vain and that there will be much needed changes to roadways and especially how drivers perceive cyclists. It’s not that hard to be courteous!”

On Aug. 21, a memorial bike ride is happening in Heather’s honour, starting with speeches at Red Deer City Hall at 10 a.m. The ride will end up at the crash site, where a ‘ghost bike’ monument is being erected by friends.

Registration is through this Facebook page.

Born in Kelowna, B.C., Heather Lawrence lived from 1977-2022.

A Celebration of Life was held last month, and donations can still be made in her name to the MS Society or Red Deer Regional Health Foundation.

If you have any information regarding this hit and run, or those responsible, contact Blackfalds RCMP at 403-885-3300.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Mother of killed Red Deer cyclist pleads for culprit to come forward

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