This September the RJC football team ran onto the field for their home-opener game in brand new jerseys. On the shoulder of each of these jerseys is a bright red ladybug. That is because these jerseys were donated by the Hunter family, in memory of their daughter and sister Jacey Hunter (2022) who passed away in the fall of 2024.
Jacey grew up in Rosthern and attended RJC from 2019- 2022 for grades 10-12. Jacey’s brother, Quinn, enrolled in grade 10 in the fall of 2023 and is currently in grade 12. “We decided to send Jacey and Quinn to RJC for many reasons,” says Tasha Hunter, mother of Jacey and Quinn, “the most important was the education they would receive; the smaller class size, the teachers’ connection with students, and the sense of community all around were very important.”
During her time as a student, Jacey was naturally inclusive and encouraging. She was involved in RJC’s spirit committee, helped with choreography for RJC’s musicals, and was a superfan on the sidelines of every sports game. Her family, staff, and peers would remark that she often had her own ‘Jacey way’ of connecting with people. “RJC had a very positive impact on Jacey,” says Tasha, “the close connection with some of the teachers was what made her feel important. The teachers pushed her to do her best, challenged her, and gave her the support to do the best she could.”
After Jacey passed away, the family decided they needed to do something in her memory to create a legacy. “Jacey was a huge supporter of her little brother Quinn,” says Tasha, “Whatever sport he played Jacey was always there cheering him and his teammates. What better place than the RJC football team? ” When the jerseys were made, the Hunters asked for a small ladybug to be incorporated into the design as a tribute to Jacey. “Jacey’s nickname was Ladybug,” says Tasha, “from a young age she loved them and quite often decided they needed to be in the house with us. She then became our ladybug.”
RJC’s home-opener football game, sponsored by the Rosthern Lions, was the official dedication of the new jerseys. At half- time, Ryan Wood, RJC’s President, along with other members of the football team invited the Hunter family onto the field to offer them a bouquet of sunflowers, another favourite of Jacey’s, and a game poster signed by the whole football team. “Jacey’s laughter will be missed, but her spirit will live on in the jerseys that have been purchased in her name,” remarked Ryan, “thank you to the Hunter family for this generous gift in Jacey’s memory.”
From the Hunter’s point of view, this gift is their own way of saying thank you for the impact RJC has had on Jacey and Quinn. “As a family, we felt deeply embraced by the RJC community,” says Tasha, “to be able to give something back in Jacey’s memory means the world to us. Her legacy now lives on in a place that shaped her, supported her, and surrounded her with belonging.”
Written by Alex Tiessen, Director of Admissions & Development
Published in Fall 2025 CONNECT
Recent Comments