Graham Holmes, 30, passed away on April 6. Family photo.
The RCMP officer who died in a snowmobile accident in Nunavut earlier this month has been identified as Graham Thomas Holmes of Shawnigan Lake.
Holmes, 30, died on April 6 when his snowmobile went over a 30-metre cliff in Kugluk Territorial Park. He was out with another officer on his day off.
According to his obituary, Holmes was raised in the Cowichan Valley and graduated from Duncan Christian School. He became an RCMP officer and in 2009, was posted to Masset B.C. Two years later, he transferred to Shawnigan Lake to be close to his father who was terminally ill. While in Shawnigan Lake, he met Kelsey Foote, who later became his fiancée.
In 2016, Holmes and Foote moved to Kugluktuk, Nunavut.
“Graham was a true adventurer who packed full the 30 years he was given,” the obituary said.
“He camped, fished, surfed and travelled – anything that got him outside and into the world around him. Graham dabbled in brewing beer and enjoyed spending time with friends, playing video and board games and liked exploring on ATVs, snowmobiles and motorcycles. Loyal, kind, with a quirky grin, and his father’s mischievous sense of humour, Graham was loved by all.”
Holmes is survived by his mother Fern, his brother Justin and his sister-in-law Esther. A scholarship fund in his name has been established at Island Savings, account number 2642940.
Today we are mourning the loss of one of our own. Cst Graham Holmes has been brought home to Vancouver Island from Nunavut. He is being laid to rest today but will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/khS2sjXGBK
— Van Island RCMP (@VanIslandRCMP) April 21, 2018
A celebration of his life is being held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at New Baptist Church, 1839 Tzouhalem Rd. in Duncan, B.C.
Graham Holmes, 30, passed away on April 6. Family photo. Courtesy of the Times Colonist.
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