Victims of Kingston-area boating accident remembered as lively and ‘energetic’

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The mourning continues for the victims of a fatal boating accident on a lake north of Kingston over the Victoria Day long weekend that left three people dead and five others injured.

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According to officials, a speedboat collided with a fishing boat in the Bucks Bay area of ​​Bobs Lake at around 9:30 p.m. on May 18.

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Three people between the ages of 21 and 23 died.

Ontario Provincial Police identified the deceased as Riley Orr, Juliette Cote and Kaila Bearman, all from the Kingston area.

“She was such a bright light and always had such a positive attitude,” said Myra Stonier in a Facebook tribute to Bearman, who she said was her niece. “She was such an intelligent person and so full of energy. She had so much to offer. She had the greatest sense of humor. She was such a creative, beautiful young lady and such a beautiful soul.”

“It’s still hard for us to imagine that we’ve lost her.”

An obituary published on May 22 in local media Kingstonist said that 22-year-old Cote was “the brightest light and left a mark on everyone she met.”

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“She was helpful to those who needed it and very thoughtful,” the tribute continued. “She was incredibly proud of her recent achievements and was very excited to start the next chapter of her life.”

According to the tribute, Cote had just graduated with honors from St. Lawrence College with a degree in behavioral psychology and was about to finish her final real estate course.

“Over the last year and a half, she and her mother had built a successful stage and design business and she was incredibly talented at it,” the obituary said. “She was well on her way to achieving everything she set out to do.”

Orr’s mother spoke in an interview with the Kingston Whig Standard.

“I know we all brag about our kids, but you couldn’t ask for a better son and a better friend,” Jennifer Orr told the outlet. “I don’t know if you’ve seen social media, but his circle of friends is huge. Huge. It goes from Bath to Sharbot Lake to Kingston. It’s unreal. No one can comprehend how big that group is.”

Riley would have turned 24 on June 1st.

No charges have been filed yet, but police have not ruled out charges.

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