Montreal family suffers double tragedy after father dies in Haiti plane crash, son in ferris wheel accident

A Montreal family is reeling from a double tragedy, with this week'sdeath of a manin a small plane crash near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, just months after the man'sson died ina work-relatedferris wheel accident in late December.

The death of Gamaniel Valcin, 56,was confirmed to CBC News by his survivingson,Joey Valcin, Thursday morning.

Just a week ago, Joeyposed for photographs with his father and mother, in the auditorium of Henri-Bourassa high school in Montral-Nord. They were there to accept a posthumous award from the National Assembly on behalf of his brother, Riley Jonathan Valcin, 22, whodied while working on the ferris wheelat Montreal's Old Port on Christmas Day.

On Thursday, Joey stoically faced the cameras once again, in the very same auditorium. He told reporters about the last time he saw his fatherwhen he dropped him off atMontral-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International AirportWednesday morning.

"I gave my father a hug. I told him that Ilove him and that I will see him again, and he said the same," he said.

Gamaniel Valcinwas one of five people aboard the plane that had beenheaded for the southern coastal city of Jacmel Wednesdaywhen the pilottried to land in the Port-au-Prince suburb ofCarrefour,hittinga truck transporting soda bottles.

When his sonlearned ofthe plane crash that evening, he tried to call his father's cell phone. To his surprise, a Haitian police commissioner answered andtold him that his father had died in the accident.

"After I heard the news, I sat down for an hour at my house. Even though I was strong-willed, my body couldn't move an inch," said the young man.

A local police commissioner, Pierre Belamy Samedi, confirmed five people died in the crash. It is not known if anyone on the plane survived or if any people on the ground were killed or injured.

Joey Valcinis now asking Ottawa for help to repatriate his father's body, citing the dangerous situation in Haiti that prevents him from going there himself.

'A man of the people'

Quebec Liberal MNA Paule Robitaille said Joey called her to inform her of the crash late Wednesday night.

"It's a horribletragedyfor the family. It's also a horrible tragedy for the riding," said the MNA forBourassa-Sauv, who presented the posthumous medal awarded to Riley Jonathanto the Valcin family last week.

Joey described his fatherfirst and foremostas "a man of the people." A pastor,taxi driver and constant helper ofHaitian citizens andmigrants in Montreal, Gamaniel Valcindedicated his life to supporting those that relied on him, his son said.

"I wantpeopleto remember my father for the great man he was: the generous, loving, compassionate, strong-willed man he was," said Joey.

"He always put others before himself, just like my brother."

Robitaillesaid she will work with her riding and the federal governmentto help repatriate Valcin's body.

Frantz Benjamin, the Haitian-bornLiberal MNAwho represents the Montreal riding of Viau, saidthe family and the community Valcin serveddeserve at least that much.

Benjamin became acquainted with Valcin after Riley Jonathan's death.He described him as a very active member in his church and as always willing to help others.

"Allthe Haitian community are in pain," he said.

In a tweet, Montreal Mayor Valrie Planteextended her sympathies to the loved ones and families of Valcin and all the victims of the crash.

WATCH|Son remembers father who died in plane crash in Haiti

Son remembers father who died in plane crash in Haiti

2 years ago

Duration 0:57

Joey Valcin wants his father to be remembered for the "generous, loving, compassionate, strong-willed man he was." Gamaniel Valcin, 56, died in a plane crash in Haiti Wednesday, mere months after his 22-year-old son died while working on the ferris wheel at Montreal's Old Port last December.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry also tweeted that he was saddened by the crash and offered his sympathies to the relatives of those who died.

Haiti's National Civil Aviation Office identified the plane as a Cessna 207, but no further details about what led to the accident have been released.

Reflecting on the loss of his father and brother within a few short months, Joey said he is grateful that he got to spend precious last moments with both of them before they died. He said on Christmas morning, he and his brother had shared heartfelt memories,reminiscing about their childhood.

"Since my brother's death, I've been trying to prepare my family to the worst possible event," said Joey.

In the last text Joey sent his father, he told himif death came,to embrace it, not to look back, and he told him that he loved him.

"I hope my father in his last moments remembered the words that I shared with him."