Chandra Van de Vorst, Kamryn Van de Vorst, Jordan Van de Vorst, and Miguire Van de Vorst. Photo courtesy Facebook.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Steinke is not stationed in Buffalo Narrows as previously stated, she works out of La Ronge. We regret the error, and have corrected it in the story.
Countless questions are left about the woman who police have arrested and charged with impaired driving causing death in a collision that took the lives of four members of a Saskatoon family on the weekend.
The charges against 49-year-old Catherine McKay are particularly conflicting for her former coworker, Rachael Steinke. The two had worked together when McKay was stationed with Kids First North in Buffalo Narrows for many years. Steinke is now the acting program manager at Kids First North’s La Ronge office, and 20 years ago lost her sister in a drunk driving collision.
“It’s interesting being on both sides,” said Steinke.
“I know personally that going through loss like this is heartbreaking and it can rip apart a family so I’m sending them my positive thoughts and energy as this unfolds as it does.”
As a result, Steinke said her heart goes out to both the victim’s family, and to McKay’s family.
Those who know McKay, who’s been in custody since Sunday, say they’ve always seen her as a positive person. McKay is well-known in the music and wrestling communities in Saskatchewan.
McKay retired from her wrestling persona “Cathy Cougar” with High Impact Wrestling (HIW) late last summer.
On Monday, HIW’s owner Mike Roberts said he is in shock over the news. He said he’s always seen McKay as “bighearted,” but like Steinke, said his thoughts are with the victims’ family – the victims were Jordan, Chanda, Miguire, and Kamryn Van de Vorst – during a time of tragedy.
In her role with Kids First North, McKay worked with young children, and Steinke said McKay did a lot of great things in northern Saskatchewan.
She does point out that with McKay’s case going through the courts, we don’t yet know the full story.
McKay will be back in Saskatoon court on Thursday.
A family remembered
Chanda Van de Vorst with Miguire (left). Miguire, Chanda, and Kamryn (right). Photos courtesy Facebook
Jordan avidly documented his children’s lives.
His Facebook page is filled with photos of his children enjoying the small things in life.
As recently as three days ago he was posting photos of his children – two-year-old Miguire and five-year-old Kamryn – and wife Chanda tobaganning, standing in front of the Northern Lights on a winter night, and visiting with Santa Claus.
The youngsters weren’t afraid to get messy, his son shown traipsing through mud and daughter feeding small birds right from their hands.
For members of a photography group Jordan was quite active in, the photos are a heartbreaking reminder of the love Jordan had for his family.
Jacqui Ferguson posted on the group’s closed Facebook page, and shared how Jordan inspired her to branch out in the photography world. Ferguson shared that the group’s core five people – Jordan included – often went out to photograph together as a group:
“I am heartbroken imagining never getting to see Jordan again, let alone shoot with him. Last night the 4 of us needed to do something other than sit around and cry, so of course we went out shooting. And the auroras came out and danced briefly, which was so beautiful, and let us feel that Jordan was there.”
The Van de Vorst family and close friends are asking for privacy after Kamryn died in hospital on Monday, which the Saskatoon Health Region described as a “peaceful” passing in a media release.