The parents of a young man who was killed in a car accident last weekend, say they have reached out in forgiveness to the driver of the vehicle to help “ease his pain.”
Douglas and Louise Goulais' son, Tyler, 24, was killed in a single-vehicle accident on Dominion Drive in Val Therese on Sunday, Dec. 19, after the vehicle he was in struck a pole. He was a passenger in the car driven by his friend Raymond Paul Walker, also 24. Walker has been charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, and having over the legal amount of blood alcohol causing death.
“My wife called and spoke with his father, and explained that we have no angry thoughts against Paul. We just hope that we can ease his pain by letting him know that's how we feel,” said Douglas Goulais.
Tyler Goulais and Walker had grown up together in Val Caron and were good friends, he explained. The night before the accident, they had gone out with friends.
“I guess he was just out on the usual weekend sort of gathering (or) celebration, Christmas cheer sort of thing,” said Douglas Goulais.
“I guess they had decided to come home in the morning, and they didn't make it all the way home.
Douglas Goulais' voice shook with emotion as he spoke about his son.
“He was just a very happy-go-lucky, polite, generous, thoughtful, charismatic (person),” he said.
“(His friends) valued his friendship and his presence, (and) he was always available and willing to help.”
Tyler Goulais was a Corporal in the reserves, serving with the 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment based in Greater Sudbury. He served a year in Afghanistan at Kandahar, working camp security. Supplied photo.
Tyler Goulais was a soldier of the 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment, the reserve unit based out of the Armory on Riverside Drive, in Greater Sudbury. His commanding officer, Lt. Col. Rob Hobbs, had only positive things to say about the soldier, who had attained the rank of Corporal.
“He really was an excellent soldier. The fact that he was selected to begin training with the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) speaks volume about the skills he had as a soldier,” Hobbs said.
“It's a very vigorous selection process and not many folks make it through that selection process to begin training.”
Tyler Goulais had spent about five years in the reserves, and had received training at bases in Meaford, Ont. and Petawawa, Ont., as well as in the local area. In 2006-2007, he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he worked in camp security.
“At the request of the family, we're taking an active role in participating in the funeral ceremonies,” said Hobbs.
“All of his pallbearers will be soldiers he has served with, (and) he is being buried in uniform. At the conclusion of the burial we'll be presenting his family with the flag that was on his coffin, as well as his medals. It's taking on the flavour of a military funeral.”
Hobbs explained that Tyler Goulais' death has affected the local regiment.
“(We felt) shock initially, then certainly tremendous sadness,” Hobbs recalled.
“The regiment is like family and, certainly, when anything like this happens, it's like losing a member of the family. We support each other, and we remember Tyler for the great soldier that he was.”
Tyler Goulais is survived by his parents, Douglas and Louise Goulais, and his siblings Kayla and Garrett. Friends may visit Lougheed Funeral Home in Val Caron/Blezard Valley Chapel between 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23. A mass will be held at St. Kevin's Church in Val Caron at 11 a.m., Dec. 24.
((Editor's Note: Tyler Goulais was incorrectly identified in the photograph above. It has been corrected. NorthernLife.ca apologizes for the confusion. Dec. 22, 3:40 p.m.))
