Content Warning: This article contains discussions of school violence, sexual assault, and suicide.
The family of an Ottawa student who tragically lost his life in a historic high school shooting is revisiting memories of that traumatic event as the 50th anniversary nears. They have kept these memories enclosed in what one sister refers to as “the memory box” for many years.
On the eve of the shooting’s anniversary, the family of Mark Hough, who passed away before his 19th birthday, will gather at a simple wooden bench they had dedicated to him earlier this year on the west side of Ottawa’s Rideau Canal. According to Hough’s sister, Lynne McArthur, the memorial serves as both a tribute to Hough’s life and a stark reminder that tragic events can occur anywhere, even in a peaceful city like Ottawa.
The tragic incident occurred on October 27, 1975, when Hough and several classmates were shot during a packed religion class at St. Pius X High School by a troubled classmate who had committed a heinous crime earlier that day. Despite the shooter taking his own life, Hough succumbed to his injuries over a month later, bringing the total death toll to three that day.
Reflecting on the upcoming anniversary, McArthur, along with her sisters and cousin, have chosen to share their experiences alongside Hough’s classmates and others affected by the tragedy with CBC, as part of a four-part series delving into the lasting impact of the incident.
McArthur expressed a sentiment of readiness to move past the grief and tragedy of that fateful day, suggesting a collective agreement within the family to embrace healing and remembrance.
Mark Hough was a gifted hockey player and kind soul who was taken far too soon, his school friends say.
Part 3: Moving Forward
Mark Hough, known as “Huff,” was the second youngest of five siblings at the age of 18. His eldest sister, Teri Bowles, described the profound impact of his sudden death, likening it to a dark and suffocating experience for the family.
In a statement to CBC, Bowles detailed the long-lasting effects of Hough’s death, noting a gradual shift towards acknowledging and revisiting memories that were previously confined to the “memory box.”