It is with great sadness that I advise the MacEwan University community that, on Tuesday, French authorities confirmed to his family that Mykhaylo (Misha) Bazelevskyy was among those killed in the Nice massacre.

Misha was one of five MacEwan University students, who, along with faculty member Launa Linaker, were participating in a three-week entrepreneurship and innovation training program offered by the European Innovation Academy. Everyone else is safe, and they have made plans with their families for travel out of Nice this week.

Few, if any of us, can comprehend the senselessness of what occurred in Nice. But it becomes intensely personal when events strike close to home. There is no greater loss to a university than a student who has so much life and promise ahead of him. Misha was a student in the School of Business and was very active in student life at MacEwan. He was a residence advisor, a game-day assistant in athletics, and a member of MacEwan’s men’s cross-country team. Misha was originally from Ukraine where his parents still live. His brother and sister-in-law reside in Edmonton.

I know everyone joins with me in expressing our profound sympathy to Misha’s family at this most terrible time. Misha will be deeply missed by his friends at MacEwan. Funeral arrangements are being made in Ukraine and a memorial service will be held in Edmonton when the family has returned.

We understand that this is a deeply emotional time and are committed to providing resources to help. Students affected by this cruel event can access free, on-campus professional counselling through Wellness and Psychological Services. Staff and faculty can access confidential support through the employee family assistance program by calling 1-866-644-0326.

David W. Atkinson, President