The City of Nelson and the Nelson Police Department and police departments across BC mourned the death of one of Nelson’s officers in a fatal avalanche on January 9, 2023, at approximately 12:00 pm.
A second officer, Mathieu Nolet, age 28, was seriously injured in the avalanche and is in a local area hospital.
The two officers were off-duty, touring in the backcountry near Kaslo, BC, about 60kms north of Nelson. Constable Nolet remains in critical condition in the ICU.
The deceased officer was identified as Wade Tittemore, age 43. In a release, Nelson Police Department stated that Constable Tittemore was a valued member of the Nelson City Police for over four years. “Cst. Tittemore was an avid backcountry enthusiast who loved skiing, hiking, and backpacking. He moved to Nelson from Calgary, where he served with the Calgary Police Service for 11 years. Constable Tittemore has a wife and two sons.”
“Nelson is one of the smallest municipal police forces in Canada, and we are like one big family. The impact of the death of Constable Tittemore has a profound effect on the force and our community.” said Chief Donovan Fisher. “Our deepest condolences go out to his family.”
“Officers in a city the size of Nelson are part of the community and make connections with people, both on and off the job.” Says Janice Morrison, Mayor and Chair of the Police Board. “A tragedy like this deeply affects us all.”
Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, in statement expressed his grief. “On behalf of all British Columbians, we send our deepest condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts are also with the officer who was critically injured, and we wish them well as they begin to recover. This is a tremendous loss for Nelson and for policing in British Columbia, and we are here to support the Nelson Police Department and the City of Nelson in this difficult time,” he said.
