We are heartbroken to announce the sudden passing of our beloved son, Jason Eitan Hiroshi Ono-O'Connor, on August 27, 2022, in Barrie, Ontario. Tragically, he was among six young adults who perished together in a single-vehicle accident.
Jason is survived by his father, Herb Ono, mother, Tara O'Connor, Uncle Steve, Aunt Betty, cousins Kenji and Keanu, Aunt Maria, Uncle Jim, cousin Gemma and her fiancé Dillon, Uncle Kim and Aunt Elke. He is also survived by his Aunt Shelly, Uncle Ron, cousins David, Leslie and Jessie, Aunt Roxanne, cousin Mackenzie, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Jennifer, and cousins Ciaran, Griffin and Fallon.
Jason was born on August 6, 1999, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and was a graduate of Collingwood School, West Vancouver, British Columbia. He was looking forward to his fourth year of studies at the Automotive Business School of Canada, Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario, with the view to earning an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Automotive Management) degree.
In addition to being a keen gamer (which allowed him to stay connected with his friends on the West Coast whilst studying in Ontario), Jason enjoyed a variety of sports. He grew up playing ice hockey with North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association and later with Hollyburn Country Club Minor Hockey Association, often as team Captain or associate Captain. However, he described playing "beer league" hockey with his cousins, Kenji and Keanu, as a highlight. As a teenager, Jason enjoyed wakeboarding, wake surfing and waterskiing. His interest in water sports led to qualification as a life guard and swimming instructor at West Vancouver Community Centre. In tenth grade, Jason also participated in a rugby tour of Australia with the Collingwood School junior rugby team. Jason was also an avid downhill skier and motorcyclist, and enjoyed a passion for motor sports.
Astute and eloquent, Jason was recently selected to serve as a student director of the 2023 Georgian College Auto Show, with a focus on industry sponsor relations. He gratefully attributed a large part of his success to the dedicated support he received from his teachers at Collingwood School, and to guidance and mentorship from his past employers - in particular, Mr. Ezra Semach of Brown Bros. Ford in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Jason was fair-minded and kind, and possessed a wicked sense of humour. He treasured time spent with family and friends. His close friends ranged from one whose parents were introduced to us through prenatal class, to those he met during his studies at Georgian College. We thank them deeply for being part of our son's short but rich life experience.
We are very proud of the remarkable young man our son had become, and we will miss him dearly. Given the nature of the accident, we can understand the intense public interest in the personal stories of six young lives tragically cut short. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for the massive outpouring of sympathy, and convey our love and support to the five other families who now grieve as we do. We would also like to thank Georgian College, Barrie Police Services and Collingwood School for their continuing assistance and support.
A celebration of life is currently being planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to: (a) Harvest Project, www.harvestproject.org, "extending a hand up" to those in need residing on the North Shore (in the Greater Vancouver area); or (b) Barrie Food Bank, www.barriefoodbank.org, in Barrie, Ontario.