Georgetown native Kaya Firth was known on the University of Guelph campus for her vibrant nature and positive outlook. In recent months, she served as an editor of The Ontarion, the campus newspaper.
Firth died Sunday in a kayaking incident on the Credit River in the Terra Cotta area near Caledon. Her boyfriend, and fellow Georgetown native Zach Sutherland is missing.
The Ontario Provincial Police is carrying out an extensive search of the river, assisted by a number of specialty units.
The editor-in-chief of the The Ontarion, Emilio Ghloum, issued a statement Tuesday, expressing condolences to the Firth and Sutherland families, and all those affected by the tragedy.
“The Ontarion will continue to respectfully honour her memory and remember the vibrant, glowing spirit she brought into our lives,” Ghloum wrote. He said the paper heard about the news Monday morning.
Firth was a fourth-year English major at the University of Guelph, and Sutherland a fourth-year commerce student.
U of G president Franco Vaccarino issued a statement Monday expressing the university’s sadness over the tragic news.
“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the friends and families of these two vibrant young people,” Vaccarino said.
In his statement, Ghloum said Firth began working as the sports and health editor at The Ontarion last fall, and “made a strong, positive impact in our office and brought smiles to the faces of all who had the pleasure of working with her.” She was noted for her passion and dedication.
“Kaya’s adventurous spirit, her willingness to learn, and her profound kindness characterized her time in our office, and she will not be forgotten,” Ghloum stated. “Our staff, our volunteers, and the members of the University of Guelph community will remember her fondly.”
Caledon OPP issued an update Tuesday morning, saying that the search for Sutherland continues.
Officers from the Caledon detachment are being assisted by several OPP specialty units, including the underwater search and recovery unit, the emergency response team, the canine and aviation units. All are focused on the the Credit River near Terra Cotta.
Sutherland and Firth were kayaking on the river in whitewater kayaks. Their empty kayaks were found in the icy water.
Firth had worked as an assistant coordinator for the Town of Halton Hills during the summer, planning summer day camp programs. She had also worked as summer program instructor for the City of Guelph. She was pursuing a degree in English at U of G.
