MacEwan confirms student among those killed in Nice attack

MacEwan mourning the death of student MacEwan University is mourning the death of one of their students, after it was confirmed he died in an attack in France.

Days after MacEwan University said one of their own students, who was on a school trip in Nice, France, was missing following a fatal attack in that city – the school has confirmed through officials in the area that the student was killed.

On Friday, MacEwan said Mykhaylo (Misha) Bazelevskyy had not been accounted for following the attack on July 14.

Finally, on Wednesday, officials announced that they had confirmed with French authorities and Bazelevskyy’s family that the 22-year-old had died when a truck plowed into the crowd, leaving 84 people dead.

Officials said confirmation of his death came on Tuesday.

“Few, if any of us, can comprehend the senselessness of what occurred in Nice,” MacEwan University President David Atkinson said in a statement. “There is no greater loss to a university than a student who has so much life and promise ahead of him.”

MacEwan said Bazelevskyy was a student at the School of Business, and described him as very active – he was a resident advisory, and a member of MacEwan’s men’s cross-country team.

He was part of a group of six, five students and one faculty member, attending a three-week entrepreneurship and innovation training program in Nice through the European Innovation Academy.

On the night of the attack, Bazelevskyy and another student in the program had gathered on the Promenade Des Anglais to watch Bastille Day fireworks.

Bazelevskyy was a Ukrainian citizen, with permanent resident status in Canada, he was travelling with his Ukrainian passport. MacEwan said his brother and sister-in-law live in Edmonton, his parents still live in Ukraine.

News of the confirmation of the student’s death garnered response from the Mayor and Premier.

Mayor Don Iveson said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the student’s death:

“On behalf of my Council colleagues and all Edmontonians, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Mykhaylo’s family and the MacEwan University community of which he was very much a part.”

Premier Rachel Notley extended condolences to family and friends of the student.

“This young man had every right to believe that he was safe. He was in a democratic country that is committed to peace…Like so many others, he was attending a celebration of freedom.

“Tragically, that feeling of safety was shattered for this innocent student, and for everyone in Nice, and in France.

“I know Albertans’ hearts are with his family, as they are with the loved ones of all the victims of Nice.”