Salmon Arm city council has unanimously approved the placement of a plaque on a bench at Raven Park in memory of Oliver “Olly” Willmot, the 18-year-old boy who died in February, 2025, after falling through the ice on Shuswap Lake.
In a letter that was sent to council by Willmot’s parents, it read, “Olly loved his parked and played there for hours with his sister and friends, either on the playground, field or basketball court.”
His parents noted one occasion, where a neighbour had helped Willmot find his keys by placing them on a bench for him to later find.
“The benches have a view of the lake, which Olly also loved and unfortunately became a tragic part of his story,” the parents wrote.
Councillor Tim Lavery said Raven Park is not an in-demand area for memorials, and that council approved an earlier request of different memorial plaque at the Little Mountain Field House. He mentioned how this could feel central to the Willmot family.
“This feels like this is central to me as well,” Lavery said. He made a motion to instruct staff to consider that request with the associated expenses going to the family as they proposed.”
Council supported the motion unanimously.
