A funeral for the 15-year-old Toronto boy who drowned on a school trip is being held Monday, though his family is still in disbelief over the death.
Jeremiah Perry, a student at C.W. Jeffreys Collegiate, drowned in a remote lake on a school canoe and camping trip to Algonquin Park on the night of July 4.
His father, Joshua Anderson, said, “This is a dream. Jerry’s going to come back one day.”
Family, relatives and classmates gathered at Perry’s visitation on Saturday afternoon to remember the boy who Anderson described as someone who was full of life.
“Jerry makes everyone laugh,” Anderson told CTV Toronto. “That’s why he told me he wanted to be a comedian.”
Anderson said he and his wife are struggling to come to grips with what happened to their son. According to Anderson, his wife continues to leave Perry’s bedroom light on every night before they go to bed.
“The word closure, there’s no such thing and I don’t think there ever will be,” Anderson told CTV Toronto.
Perry’s family has questioned why Perry was allowed in the water without a life-jacket as they say he could not swim. According to the Toronto District School Board, everyone on the trip was required to complete a swim test before being allowed to go.
However, Perry’s brother, Marrion Perry, said the students were allowed to wear life-jackets during the swim test.
Ontario Provincial Police are now investigating the incident and the Toronto District School Board has said it is fully co-operating with investigators
A vigil was also held to honour Perry at his school on Friday night.
With files from CTV Toronto
