Nunavik communities mourn 3 family members who died in house fire
Rev. Tom Martin, wife Marianne Martin and grandson Rowan Martin died early Sunday morning
Longtime Anglican priest Rev. Tom Martin, his wife Marianne Martin and their grandson Rowan Martin died in a house fire Sunday morning in Whapmagoostui, the neighbour community to Kuujjuaraapik. (File photo courtesy of MH Lareault/Wikicommons)
Two Nunavik communities are mourning the deaths of a longtime priest, his wife and their grandson in a house fire early Sunday.
Reverend Tom Martin, who served the Cree community of Whapmagoostui and the nearby Inuit community of Kuujjuarapik for more than 20 years at St. Edmund’s Anglican Church in Whapmagoostui, Marianne Martin and Rowan Martin all lost their lives in the fire, said Chief Robbie Kawapit of the Whapmagoostui First Nation community in a Facebook post.
“In this time of unimaginable loss and tragedy, it is vital that we stand together as one community to offer our unwavering support and compassion to the grieving family,” Kawapit said.
Whapmagoostui is home to about 1,000 Cree who live alongside the Inuit community of Kuujjuarapik, with a population of close to 800.
The house fire occurred on the Cree side, said Capt. Patrice Abel of the Nunavik Police Service in an email. A spokesperson for the Eeyou Eenou Police Force couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.
Construction on the current St. Edmund’s Anglican Church began in 2002, to replace the aging former building.
In an interview then, Rev. Martin told Nunatsiaq News the community had needed a new church building to accommodate and bring together Cree and Inuit since his arrival there nearly two decades before.
In his Facebook post, Whapmagoostui’s chief invited both communities to honour the legacy of the Martin family, “remembering the lifelong dedication, service, and unconditional love they gave upon our community.”
Rev. Tom Martin also served the community of Sanikiluaq NU for many years. Condolences to the Martin’s family & friends .
This is very sad news. I met Marianne, Rowan, and Rev. Tom in Kuujjuarapik / Whapmagoostui, over the past few years and I remembered Marianne’s kindness especially. My thoughts are with the community.
My wife and I served in the Western part of Diocese of the Arctic for many Because of the vastness of the diocese we did not know Tom or his wife well. However, despite the distance separating us we were part of the same team whose mission was to share the good news of the gospel with the Inuit and Cree people of the north. For Tom,his wife and grandson to die in such tragic circumstances is heart breaking, but Tom, Marianne and Rowan are at resting in the presence of the Lord they served with heartfelt conviction for so many years in Canada’s great North Land.
Hi,
Marilyn,
It is Denise and John from St. Marten.
We are so sorry to hear about your brother and his wife and grandson.
We missed seeing you this year in St. Marten. We remember Marrianne from last year in St. Marten, she was so nice.
I don’t have your address.
If you wanted to contact me and give your address, my email is in this info.
So sorry for your loss.
Our best,
Thinking of you,
Love,
Denise and John Cornell