Deaths at Bermuda Shorts party

A Bermuda Shorts Day celebration ended in tragedy in Calgary when five young people were stabbed to death early yesterday morning.

Four men and one woman were killed in what police chief Rick Hanson described as the worst mass murder in Calgary’s history.

The Bermuda Shorts Day marks the end of classes for University of Calgary students and has been a campus tradition since 1961. According to The Gauntlet, the independent newspaper for the University of Calgary, student Alan Arthur bought his first pair of Bermuda shorts in 1961. “Wanting to celebrate spring, Arthur wrote a message on the main hall blackboard, stating that everyone should show up wearing Bermuda shorts. Many of the university’s 250 students did, and a tradition was born.”

It has been called Calgary’s “largest student celebration” and provides university students a chance to relax before taking final exams. Students require a wristband from the students’ union to attend sanctioned on-campus events.

The tragedy unfolded at an unofficial offshoot of the main event — a Bermuda Shorts Day house party, hosted by University of Calgary students. 

Police Chief Hanson told the Calgary Herald that a guest at the party “obtained a large knife” and began attacking people at the house. Three people died on the scene while two died in hospital from injuries sustained from the stabbings.

The victims were a 22-year-old man, two 23-year-old men, one 23-year-old woman and one 27-year-old man. There were 20 people in the home when the stabbings occurred. 

A man, who is a son of a police officer and a student at the university, has been arrested in connection with the mass murder. He was later taken to the hospital for treatment of bite injuries from a police dog. 

Calgary Herald reporter Eva Ferguson tweeted: “Students at U of C residence say partying and drinking starts at 5am on Bermuda Shorts Day.”

Calgary Herald columnist Valerie Forney tweeted: “Bermuda Shorts Day is supposed to be the most fun day of the year. Now it’s ruined. U of C student Pauline Thiessen.” 

On the U of C website there is a statement: “The University of Calgary is mourning the loss of five young people killed early this morning in Brentwood. The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed by Calgary Police Services. Once details are confirmed by Calgary Police Services, the university will provide a further statement.

“The university is greatly concerned about students, faculty and staff affected by this tragedy. Anyone affected is encouraged to visit the University of Calgary Wellness Centre classroom MSC 370, where supports are available.”