Johanna Dean was an avid cyclist who was tragically struck by a delivery van at the corner of Windmill Road and Albro Lake Drive in Dartmouth. A delivery truck was turning left and Ms. Dean was struck down and later succumbed to her injuries. She was a teacher at St. Catherine's Elementary School in Halifax.
There was a memorial ride after which this ghost bike was placed at the scene of the accident in her honor. She was just 30 years old when the accident took place on May 21, 2014.
The Chronicle Herald article is reproduced below.
Cyclist killed in Dartmouth
was vibrant and funny, says twin sister
FRANCES WILLICK EDUCATION REPORTER
Published May 24, 2014 - 12:32pm
The twin sister of a cyclist who was killed in a collision in Dartmouth says her family isn’t angry about the crash.
Julie Dean’s sister, Johanna Dean, died after she was struck by a delivery truck while cycling on Windmill Road on Wednesday afternoon.
“Of course we wish it didn’t happen, but we understand that it was part of her path,” Julie said.
Her family would like to contact the truck driver involved in the collision to offer him some degree of comfort, Julie said.
“I would like to be in touch with him and let him know that she’s OK,” Julie said. “And that there are no hard feelings and that we know it was an accident and it could happen to anyone and we don’t want him to live his life with any regrets. Because that is not what Johanna would want.”
Julie says her sister, whom she describes as her soulmate, was vibrant, funny and had a magnetic personality.
Every day when Johanna walked through the door after working as an elementary school teacher, not only would Julie come to the door to greet her, but Johanna’s pet cocker spaniel, Winnie, and even her cat, Winston, would come running.
“Everyone just loved to be around her because she did just have this energetic, positive personality,” Julie said.
Johanna, 30, taught French immersion to students in grades 1 and 2 at St. Catherine’s Elementary School in Halifax. Before that, she taught at Shannon Park Elementary School.
Julie said her sister loved teaching.
“Just last week…I was asking her, ‘Are you happy in your job?’ And I knew the answer was yes, but she wholeheartedly was like, ‘Absolutely.’ There was no doubt in her mind that she loved her job and she just knew exactly that that was where she was supposed to be. There were no regrets.”
Johanna’s obituary notes that she “cherished each class she taught, ending every year by saying, ‘This class is the one I loved the best.’”
She graduated with a psychology degree from Dalhousie University, followed by an education degree from Acadia University.
A spokesman for the Halifax regional school board said extra staff, including a social worker, a psychologist and substitute teachers were brought to the school last week to support the community as it grieves Johanna’s death.
“She was obviously very well-liked, even though this was her first year at the school,” said Doug Hadley. “Everyone’s struggling to accept the loss.”
Johanna’s obituary says cycling was one of her favourite activities.
“We can all take solace in knowing she was happy during her final moments; I’m sure even daydreaming in the beautiful sun, moments before she passed,” the obituary says.
Julie says her sister had been cycling regularly for about five years, and enjoyed it both for the workout and for the opportunity to connect with nature.
“We were both very spiritual people and believed in the energy of the universe. To restore your energy is to be outside with nature and take the energy from the trees and from the grass.”
She also enjoyed hiking, practising yoga and eating healthy, Julie said.
Johanna had a “child-like inner quality” and liked to act silly sometimes, making faces and striking funny poses to make people laugh.
“We’re going to miss her every day until we meet again,” Julie said. “There’s still lots of questions left, like why now, as opposed to later on in life.
“She, more than anyone else, believed that when it was your time, it was your time and it was predestined. She would take comfort in knowing that God had planned out a path of least suffering for her. We don’t understand really why her path had to end so shortly, but just that we know that it was part of her destiny.”
In addition to Julie, Johanna is survived by older sisters Cherie, Jackie and Kelly, and her mother, Shirley.
Julie said the family would also like to reach out to Elizabeth Tanner, a woman who reportedly witnessed the accident.
“She knew it was a fatal crash and she just held her hand until the ambulance arrived, and just kept telling her that everything was going to be OK,” Julie said. “We’d like to connect with her, too.”
Johanna was also employed at the Armview Restaurant & Lounge, where she worked during evenings and weekends.
The restaurant’s owner, George Kapetanakis, said the fact that Johanna worked a second job showed her character and determination. She became a member of the family during her time there, Kapetanakis said in an email on Saturday.
“She was positively a joy to be around,” read the statement. “A bright light seemed to follow her wherever she went. Her friends at the Armview are devastated by this tragic loss and wish to express their sincere condolences to her family during this time. She will most certainly be missed.”
The family has asked for any donations in Johanna’s name to be made to the Halifax Cycling Coalition.
The coalition and the family are planning a memorial bike ride in Johanna’s name to start on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Dartmouth Sportsplex. Cyclists will travel along Windmill Road to the scene of the collision at Albro Lake Road.
A “ghost bike” — a bicycle painted entirely in white — will be installed at the scene of the crash as a memorial to Johanna and as a reminder of bike safety.
“We want to raise awareness about safe biking because ultimately, that’s what took her, was the fact that Halifax doesn’t have a safe bike route for bicyclists,” Julie said.
The Halifax Cycling Coalition’s board co-chair, Ben Wedge, said the organization is happy to accept any donations and will work with Johanna’s family on a legacy project in the future.
Police have not laid any charges in the collision.
“It’s still an open investigation and it doesn’t appear any charges have been laid as of yet,” said Staff Sgt. Reid McCoombs of the Halifax Regional Police.
From the Halifax Chronicle Herald