Victim impact statement by Renee Schell

The following statement by Renee Schell, sister of Anita Proulx, was read into evidence at a sentencing hearing for Clayton Lapensee today.

Lapensee will be sentenced on February 12 after being convicted of driving while impaired, causing a four-vehicle collision that killed Anita Proulx and injured Amanda Proulx.

On January 17, Lapensee was convicted of driving while impaired and causing a four-vehicle collision that killed Anita Proulx and injured Amanda Proulx.

The full text of Renee's statement was provided to SooToday.com by Anita's family members.

Their hope is that people who read the statements will gain a clearer understanding of the horrifying damage drinking and driving wreaks upon families and the community at large.

************************* My name is Renee Schell and I am one of Anita Proulx's three sisters. I am the youngest.

Our mother died when I was six years old and Anita was 12. She and our other two sisters (Nancy and Lynda) assumed the role of mother for me at different stages in our development.

When I was 17, our father died. Once again my sisters were placed in the role of parent for me. Anita was always present in my life in very important ways. Lynda moved away when I was very young (13) and Nancy left for Cambridge, Ontario when I was 22; so it was just Anita and I. She had her own family at this time (Ken, Amanda and Kenny), so I was on my own. Whatever milestone occurred in my life, Anita was present and involved - marriage, childbirth, deaths, all life-changing events. I could always count on her presence.

I miss her energy and laughter, her knowledge and advice. She was the one in my family who knew my past, including things about our parents that I could not remember. She knew about our extended family and who belonged to whom. All that is gone without her. She had a keen interest in our family history and one day hoped to document it. Well that day will never come. She is gone. She had vivid memories of our childhood that she would share with me; I, having been so young, didn't have any of my own. Now I have to be the one to pass on what little I know with her children and grandchild. For me this is a chilling thought. A large chunk of my past has been obliterated on the day of the crash that happened two days before my birthday and the day before my sister's birthday. ************************* Full coverage of today's sentencing hearing Crown seeks five years for Lapensee Victim impact statement by Tricia Proulx-Medaglia Victim impact statement by Ken Proulx Victim impact statement by Renee Schell Victim impact statement by Amanda Proulx Victim impact statement by Kenny Proulx Victim impact statement by Lynda Bertulli

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