GALLERY: Cold Lake mourns loss of Ibukun Adeniyi

The funeral service and public viewing happening Wednesday afternoon. 

An overwhelming amount of support took to the streets of Cold Lake North on Tuesday night in a showing of community that anyone who attended will not soon forget.

Ibukun Adeniyi’s tragic passing on Sunday night, found in the drainage pond near their residence after about seven hours of searching, has had

Hundreds of residents who knew Ibukun and the family, or just neighbours who wanted to show their support, dressed in black and walked just after 9:00PM on a calm night.

The City helped close the streets, so there would be no interruption from Rocky Way where the Adeniyi family lives, to St. Dominic’s Elementary School, where Ibukun went to school.

Cold Lake Fire-Rescue and Cold Lake Search & Rescue helped assist and led the way, as the parents and family were escorted in a SUV to lead the way.

Amy Jones and Shannon Bryant put together the vigil — with the family’s wishes and wants provided for — as a way to help out.

After the community’s presence reverberated through the street, just like they did for the search party, the story of Ibukun has transcended the Lakeland area.

“We just wanted them to know that they’re not alone,” said Jones.

“They say it takes a village…this little boy is going to sit with everybody for a very, very long time. The unfortunate thing is our lives will eventually go back to normal. And…what will normal be for them?” said Bryant.

Vigil & Prayer

Walk

As the assembled gathered around the playground equipment, and spotlights shone on some of the Principal Jacqueline Densmore, she shared a message at the top of slide.

Cold Lake Community Church pastor Mark said a prayer, as well as another invited member from the family, to commemorate the life of Ibukun.

With the boy’s graduation picture attached to the equipment, people placed their candles and other assorted items, burning a beautiful light into the night.

Ibukunoluwa Samuel Adeniyi was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 2019.

The family moved less than a year ago from Canada, with the mother coming to be a new doctor in Cold Lake.

Mayor Craig Copeland relayed a story on The Morning After on Wednesday, as he helped picked up the family from Edmonton in the wintertime in freezing cold Alberta winter.

“They were so happy to come to Canada. We picked them up in Edmonton, I think it was 35 below that day. The two little boys were in the backseat. I remember looking at the backseat and they were looking out the window. I asked, mom, ‘what are they looking at?’ because I didn’t see any animals. She just said, ‘they’re looking at the big open spaces.’

“They came from a community in Nigeria where there was millions of people. To see open space, was special. They came over here with very little in their pocketbook and started a new life. We take it for granted what we have in Canada.”

He added, “It demonstrates that a small community is there for people. Here’s a family that comes over from Nigeria as a family doc, that tragically loses their son. Everyone is grieving. The community came out in a big way looking for the little guy. Everybody from horses to quads, people with their dogs looking in the bush, to have it tragically end like that, was tough.”

Ibukun was found, after approximately seven hours of searching, in the drainage pond near their residence.

He will not be forgotten.

Those looking to assist in the family, can go through a GoFundMe link that has been set up by the Cold Lake Black Community Association.

The Cold Lake Community Church is also setting up a donation link. Choose the fund “Adeniyi family” or give via etransfer to give@clcconline.ca – must include in the memo ‘Adeniyi Family’.

A community BBQ for the Adeniyi Family is scheduled for Saturday from 11:00AM-2:00PM at Hamel’s Meats.