Even though they are on the other side of the country in British Columbia, Jason Ono-Connor’s father says the family has been “overwhelmed" by the amount of support they’ve received following last weekend’s tragic crash in south-end Barrie that claimed the lives of six young people, including his son.
Ono-O’Connor’s family has released a poignant obituary and provided a joint statement from his friends in West Vancouver as they grieve the 23-year-old man’s death in a catastrophic crash on McKay Road. The investigation continues, but city police have released few details.
Herb Ono, Ono-O’Connor’s father, told BarrieToday in an email on Friday that while he was not ready to speak about his devastating loss, he and Ono-O’Connor’s mother, Tara O’Connor, have been “overwhelmed ... with the massive and generous outpouring of sympathy and support we and the other families have continued to receive.”
Ono-O’Connor’s obituary paints the picture of an “astute and eloquent” young man who will be missed by a large family and who was very active in his life.
Jason Eitan Hiroshi Ono-O’Connor was born on Aug. 6, 1999, in Vancouver, B.C., and was a graduate of Collingwood School in West Vancouver.
He was heading into his fourth year of studies at Georgian College’s Automotive Business School of Canada in Barrie, with the goal of earning an honours bachelor of business administration (automotive management) degree. He was a consistent member of the Dean’s List at the local college and was recently chosen to be a student director in the 2023 Georgian Auto Show, with a focus on industry sponsor relations.
Georgian College president and CEO Kevin Weaver has said the auto show’s director position is “a highly sought role among our students and true recognition of his academic excellence and commitment to the industry.”
Ono-O’Connor’s obituary says his large family is “heartbroken” in the wake of his death. He’s survived by his mother and father, as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. While studying at Georgian, Ono-O’Connor’s family says he stayed in contact with his friends on the West Coast through his interest in gaming.
Ono-O’Connor also participated a variety of sports and grew up playing ice hockey with the North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association and later with the Hollyburn Country Club Minor Hockey Association, where he was often among the team captains. As a teenager, he also enjoyed wakeboarding, wake surfing and water-skiing. It was his interest in water sports that led to qualification as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the West Vancouver Community Centre.
In Grade 10, Ono-O’Connor took part in a rugby tour of Australia with Collingwood School’s junior rugby team. He was also an avid downhill skier and motorcyclist, and had a passion for motorsports.
Ono-O’Connor’s obituary says he was “fair-minded and kind, and possessed a wicked sense of humour,” while also treasuring time spent with family and friends.
“His close friends ranged from one whose parents were introduced to us through prenatal class, to those he met during his studies at Georgian College. We thank them deeply for being part of our son’s short but rich life experience,” the obituary says.
Ono also shared with BarrieToday a statement from a group of his son’s friends in West Vancouver, who said he had “an adventurous personality.”
It says: “To us, Jason was a friend and a brother. He had a special talent for helping people believe anything was possible. He was a lovable, forward-thinking daredevil and his personality was infectious. He believed in you even if you couldn’t believe in yourself. He had a kind genuine soul that would lift your spirits even on the worst of days. We’ll miss going for scenic drives talking about the future until 3 a.m. and going skiing with you.”
As Ono-O’Connor was about to start the final year of his degree program at Georgian, his friends said he was excited by the chance to turn his passion for cars into a career. They also said he was coming into his own and “enjoying life to its fullest” by spending time with his friends and exploring new opportunities.
Ono-O’Connor’s friends also extended their condolences to the other families involved in last weekend’s crash.
The friends signed off their tribute with: “We love ya buddy, we miss you, may you rest in peace.”
In his obituary, Ono-O’Connor’s family said that, given the nature of the horrific crash, they understand the intense public interest in the personal stories of six young lives tragically cut short.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for the massive outpouring of sympathy, and convey our love and support to the five other families who now grieve as we do. We would also like to thank Georgian College, Barrie Police Service and Collingwood School for their continuing assistance and support,” said the obituary.
A celebration of life is being planned. In lieu of flowers, Ono-O’Connor’s family and friends ask that people make donations to either the Harvest Project, which is a community-based organizaion on the Greater Vancouver Area’s North Shore, or to the Barrie Food Bank.
