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Daughter of man killed in Barcelona vows terrorists 㽶Ƶֱfailed㽶Ƶֱ

Fiona Wilson grateful for 㽶Ƶֱextraordinary kindness㽶Ƶֱ shown in wake of last week㽶Ƶֱs attack in Spain
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Candles and flowers mark a vigil at the site in Barcelona where Rock㽶Ƶֱs Ian Wilson (shown in inset with his wife Valerie) and 12 others were killed last week.

The daughter of the White Rock man who was 㽶Ƶֱ when a van was intentionally driven through a crowd of pedestrians 㽶Ƶֱ says perpetrators behind the violent act that claimed 13 lives have not won.

㽶ƵֱThe terrorists who killed my father were trying to send a message of hate and destruction,㽶Ƶֱ Fiona Wilson told Peace Arch News by email Thursday.

㽶ƵֱDespite our devastating loss, our family wants people to know that they completely failed.㽶Ƶֱ

Wilson, a staff sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department, wrote to PAN from Barcelona, where she and her husband have been since last Friday 㽶Ƶֱ the day after the attack took place on Las Ramblas, a popular Barcelona thoroughfare.

Wilson, who also lives in White Rock, said her parents, Ian and Valerie Wilson, had been staying in Barcelona with her son Duncan and ex-husband Robert Bates, while Duncan attended a soccer camp.

On the 㽶Ƶֱ which also injured more than 100 other pedestrians 㽶Ƶֱ Duncan and his dad had gone to the beach, while the senior Wilsons went walking, she said.The four were to meet back up at their apartment later in the day.

㽶ƵֱThe attack happened and luckily Rob and Duncan were not injured, although they were on Las Ramblas at the time,㽶Ƶֱ Wilson said.

She said it took several hours to locate her mother in hospital; she had suffered several fractures, including broken ribs, in the attack.

She learned of her father㽶Ƶֱs death the following morning.

News of the tragedy㽶Ƶֱs impact on this community spread quickly, and efforts to help the Wilson family have so far raised more than $17,500, through donations to a that launched Sunday.

The funds are 㽶Ƶֱto allow (Valerie Wilson) and her family to recover in peace,㽶Ƶֱ according to page organizer, Lisa Byrne.

In addition to condolences, donors have encouraged the family to stay strong.

㽶ƵֱMy heart breaks for you and your family,㽶Ƶֱ writes Diane Murray. 㽶ƵֱWe cannot let these people win!㽶Ƶֱ

Writes Mardel Greenough: 㽶ƵֱHow devastating this senseless act of violence must be to you and your family and to the other families affected but just know that you are not alone, your immediate community and the broader community walk with you.㽶Ƶֱ

In a statement issued last Friday through VPD, Fiona Wilson said her family is focusing on the kindness that has been bestowed on them, both immediately following the attack and in the days since. It㽶Ƶֱs what her dad 㽶Ƶֱ who she described as 㽶Ƶֱcompassionate, generous, adventurous㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ would want, she said.

She reiterated the determination to PAN Thursday.

㽶ƵֱAs a family, we would like to focus on the extraordinary kindness that everyone has shown us during this time,㽶Ƶֱ she said.

㽶ƵֱI have so many stories of unbelievable acts of kindness that I can㽶Ƶֱt even begin to tell you them all 㽶Ƶֱ we even received a phone call from Prime Minister Trudeau and a letter from the King of Spain.㽶Ƶֱ

Hundreds of candles, flowers and notes mark the site of her dad㽶Ƶֱs death.

In White Rock, city officials announced on Twitter Wednesday morning that its flag would be lowered to half-mast until Aug. 28 in memory of the terror-attack victims.

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Candles and flowers mark a vigil at the site in Barcelona where Rock㽶Ƶֱs Ian Wilson (shown in inset with his wife Valerie) and 12 others were killed last week.


Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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