We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Leah Jennine Oliver in a vehicle accident in Rogers Pass near Revelstoke BC on 15 December 2002 at the age of 21. Her friend and companion Sapper Stephen Alexander Oliver (not related) was also killed in the same accident. Both were members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton AB.
Leah was born in New Westminster BC but lived the greater part of her life in Kamloops BC. She attended David Thompson Elementary, John Peterson Secondary School and graduated from Kamloops Senior Secondary. In 1999, she joined the Canadian Forces as a Reserve Infantry soldier with the Rocky Mountain Rangers in Kamloops. She transferred to the Regular Force in 2001 as a Combat Engineer and trained at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Gagetown NB. On completion of her training, she was posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment. Leah was an athletic person who excelled in numerous sports especially wrestling where she placed at the provincial and national levels. She had recently completed the demanding combat diver’s preliminary course.
A funeral service for Leah will be held on 21 December at Kamloops United Church, 421 St. Paul Street, Kamloops BC. Please address condolences to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, attention Regimental Sergeant Major, Edmonton Garrison, PO Box 10500 Edmonton AB, T5J 4J5.
1 Combat Engineer Regiment will hold a joint memorial service for both Leah and Stephan Oliver on 10 January 2003 in the Arden Theatre at 5 St. Anne Street, St. Albert AB. Leah and Stephen Oliver will be buried together in Kamloops. {dc/gdMarch2016}