Wade Tittemore Obituary, Death – Wade Tittemore, 43, a Nelson police officer recognized as a mentor and gentleman was killed Monday in an avalanche that gravely injured another officer and left the department in mourning. Constable Wade Tittemore of the Nelson Police Department, was killed while skiing 60 kilometers north of Nelson alongside Constable Mathieu Nolet. Nolet, 28, is being hospitalized at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail for several damaged ribs, bones, and other injuries.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Donovan Fisher acknowledged that the tragedy had shook the 20-person department. “This tragedy has shattered our hearts in Nelson, where we have a small police department with a true family dynamic. These are outstanding men and officials, and as a result, the entire community suffers.” Both police were experienced backcountry skiers with avalanche training and beacons. The cops used snowmobiles to reach Empire Cabin in Kaslo, then ski toured to the top Jardine SE3 where the avalanche occurred Monday morning, according to search and rescue officials in Nelson and Kaslo.
Four other individuals who were staying at the cabin and happened upon the scene discovered them. Fisher claims that Nolet, with whom he spoke Tuesday morning, recalls being swept into a tree. Tittemore was carried further down the mountain and discovered beneath two metres of snow. Nolet’s injuries are so severe, according to Fisher, that his return to the department could take “months, if not years.” Tittemore is survived by his wife and two sons. He spent 11 years with the Calgary Police Service before joining Nelson’s department four years ago. He was an outdoorsman who loved hiking, skiing, and backpacking. “Wade was a nice gentleman,” stated Fisher. “He knew how to deal with problems when they arose, but his soft-spoken gentleman manner handled any concerns we had to deal with in public 99 percent of the time.”
Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison stated that the city and the police board will now concentrate on Tittemore’s family and Nolet, a rookie cop who had recently joined the department after working in Calgary. “We had a police force before we were incorporated as a city, so it has always been an important component of the community. We’ve counted on them through many difficulties throughout the years. As a result, the entire town is in sorrow today.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose brother Michel was killed in an avalanche in nearby Kokanee Creek Provincial Park in 1998, as well as British Columbia Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and the Calgary Police Service, where both officers previously worked, both expressed their condolences to the department.
The Nelson Police Department, which has been in operation for 126 years, was closed down on Tuesday. Fisher complimented local and regional RCMP detachments for responding to calls and providing space for his officers to grieve. “I’m sure it’s been said before, but the law enforcement community is extremely close. Many people have volunteered to assist. As a result, I’m not worried about having police coverage in our jurisdiction for as long as we require it.” Avalanche The avalanche hazard at Kaslo has been upgraded to “considerable” by Canada. Fisher expressed concern that additional accidents will occur and hoped that backcountry skiers would take precautions such as informing others of their whereabouts. On Tuesday, though, the focus was on the department, which Fisher predicted would struggle to recover from Tittemore’s death and Nolet’s long-term handicap. “We will proceed,” he replied, “but not without some long-term pain.”