Nursing student mourns daughter

Fund established to honour six-year-old

Jenna Chang, the daughter of first-year nursing student Ye Qiao, loved to ride her mountain bike and play on the monkey bars. On Saturday, her family and friends will get together to remember the six-year-old’s fondness for drawing and painting, and her love of games and sports.

Jenna was killed last week while crossing 32nd Avenue on her way home to Family Housing at the University of Calgary. The funeral will be held Saturday at Bow Valley Christian Church, 5300 53rd Ave. N.W., beginning at 1 p.m. A reception will follow.

Jenna’s mom, Ye Qiao, was also seriously injured in the accident and is recovering at Foothills Hospital. She and her husband, Wei Chang, also have a 12-month-old son, Jesse.
A fund has been set up to establish a memorial to Jenna in the names of Ye Qiao and Wei Chang. The public can make contributions at any TD Canada Trust location.

Residents of Family Housing at the University of Calgary are working together to create a permanent memorial within the family housing residences on campus, said Joel Lynn, director of residences and the student experience. “Jenna was their neighbour. She played with the children of other residents and she was a part of their lives. They want to come up with a memorial that is appropriate and respectful.”

Jenna was born in China and moved with her family to Canada in 2004. She was a Grade One student at Stanley Jones School.

“The students are devastated,” said Faculty of Nursing Dean Michael Clinton. “Their response has been to provide all the help and support to the family that they can.”
Clinton said several fellow nursing students were driving in the area at the time of the accident and helped at the scene.

In response to the fatality, the City of Calgary has indicated it will review safety at the crosswalk. The crosswalk is marked, but not lit by flashing lights. University of Calgary President Dr. Harvey Weingarten has also asked the city to undertake a safety review of all the major streets and crosswalks surrounding campus. The city has agreed to work with Campus Security and Campus Infrastructure.