Fall victim remembered as a great friend

A man who died after falling into the Red Deer River is being remembered as a great friend who loved a good laugh — and a good old-fashioned pirate tune.

Friends say Bryan Wright enjoyed spending his time either with his friends and family or behind the drums as part of Blaqure, a pirate-themed rock band.

“They would dress up as pirates and play pirate-themed music,” remembered friend Katrina Therriault. “Sometimes his friends and I would dress up as pirate wenches and come to the shows. It was so much fun.”

Wright, who was studying music at Red Deer College, died May 3 after he lost his footing on an embankment in the Maskepetoon natural area and fell about six metres into the river at about 3:30 a.m.

Members of Red Deer Emergency Services found him about three hours later near where he had fallen in.

Therriault, who met Wright two years ago on their first day of class, said the 20-year-old knew how to make everyone around him smile.

“He had no problem making a fool of himself to make others laugh,” she said. “He was one of the first people you would go to if you needed a lift.”

Therriault said Wright got along well with everyone he met.

“I don’t think there was a single person who was ever uncomfortable around Bryan,” she said. “He made friends so easily.”

It’s that large group of friends that has been helping each other deal with Wright’s sudden death Therriault said.

“Everybody has been really supportive,” she said. “It’s a small community so we do what we can for each other.”

At the Blarney Stone North Pub and Restaurant, where Wright worked as a bartender last year, staff were just learning of his death Monday.

“I can’t believe it, I saw him in here a few weeks ago,” said waitress Jodie Schmidt.

Schmidt said Wright’s easy-going personality meant he got along well with customers.

“He was really outgoing and confident,” she said. “He talked a lot about the band he was in and the music they were doing. I think he was really proud.”

Police have said they believe rough terrain, overcast night-time conditions and alcohol were factors in Wright’s death.

Meanwhile Greg Scott, manager for the Recreation, Parks and Culture Department, said the city wants to wait until the police finish their investigation before commenting.

“We are quite familiar with the area because we are doing a Maskepetoon Park Master Plan,” Scott said Monday.

Councillor Larry Pimm said earlier that the city should review conditions at the spot where Wright slipped to determine whether the Maskepetoon site is safe enough for residents.

A funeral for Wright is being held Saturday May 10 at 2 p.m. at the Strathmore Alliance Church.

Contact Ashley Joannou at ajoannou@reddeeradvocate.com