One year ago on February 8, a bus was deliberately driven into a daycare in Laval, killing two toddlers. As this sad anniversary approaches, while we still know nothing about the suspect’s motivations, parents and caregivers have agreed to share their memories of this day as chaotic as it is tragic.
For nearly an hour, while driving to daycare, a father believed his 4-year-old son was crushed to death under the bus after receiving a call from his hysterical wife.
Sébastien Courtois’ partner works in a medical clinic located a stone’s throw from the daycare. When the horror occurred, a mother who was at the scene quickly called her to go there.
“We took her to the nursery, where all the children were safe and sound,” says Sébastien Courtois. She scanned the room and when she realized Jules wasn’t there, she let out a shrill scream which, we were told, still haunts some of the people present.”
Saved by a hero
The mother was convinced that her little Jules was dead. In her anger, she hastened to call her husband to come and join her.
“I was driving and I was already grieving for my son, imagining that I would never see him again. But I also knew that I had to take care of my wife when I arrived.”
Once there, the ex-police officer and his lover were informed that Jules had just been pulled out from under the bus by another parent. A “hero,” he insists.
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The child was rushed to hospital, where he stayed for eight days. Bladder explosion, internal bleeding, pneumothorax, right arm muscle crush, facial dermabrasion; little Jules suffered serious injuries and had to remain at home to convalesce for three months.
A year later, apart from a scar on his stomach, Jules bears no other physical trace of this tragedy. Mentally, he is doing relatively well too. The concept of death is still vague for him – he believes that Jacob and Maëva, the two children who lost their lives in the tragedy, are on another planet.
“Packages” for victims
Although grateful that certain services were offered to his family, Sébastien Courtois still questions the terms of the compensation program, which notably limits professional fees, the quantity of sessions covered and the deadlines for making a request for compensation. ‘help.
“The program does not take humans into account,” says Mr. Courtois. It covers $94.50 per session, while a psychologist at that hourly rate doesn’t even exist. The alleged perpetrator has been benefiting from free services for a year and has not paid a cent. The perpetrator has no crime, the victims do. It costs a lot to be a victim.”
The Courtois family was also able to benefit from a monetary donation from various crowdfunding campaigns, which greatly reduced the financial burden. Despite his personal demons, Sébastien Courtois continued to work to provide for his family.
“Otherwise, we would have had to choose between mental health care for our family or a small leisure budget,” he insists.