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Squamish celebrates life of family man

Andrew Pereman, 37, killed by fall from Garden Centre rooftop
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Loved life Andrew Pereman was fatally injured in a fall from the Garden Centre in Squamish, which he was renovating. Photo Submitted

A Squamish man who died after falling from a roof last weekend is being remembered as a loving husband and dad.

A celebration of life for Andrew Pereman, 37, is planned for Friday (Feb. 10) at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish. Hundreds of people are expected to attend the event, which starts at 3 p.m. According to his wife, Natalie, Pereman's friends and family are travelling from all over Canada to attend the memorial event.

Pereman fell from a height of about six metres (20 feet) on Feb. 4 and was flown by air ambulance helicopter to hospital in Vancouver with injuries described as "substantial" after the fall from the Garden Centre roof on Mamquam Road.

Pereman and his wife were in the process of renovating a business they recently purchased together. They have been in the process of transforming and expanding the Garden Centre on Mamquam Road in Squamish to include fresh farm food sales, on-site food cultivation and small food vendor kiosks operating in conjunction with the retail garden centre.

According to his friends, Pereman was dedicated to his family. He was the father of two young daughters and met his wife through their love of slo-pitch. They played together on a Vancouver-based team that travelled to participate in tournaments.

"He was a natural athlete and excelled at every sport he tried," said his wife.

Pereman also enjoyed the outdoors, he liked to hunt and he loved listening to country music.

A memorial fund has been set up in Pereman's name at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Squamish to support his two daughters, who are aged five and two. Instead of giving flowers, Pereman's family requested contributions be made to the memorial fund.

At the time of the accident Al Malayko, the acting B.C. Ambulance Service Unit Chief in Squamish, said Pereman suffered multi-system trauma with confirmed head and neck injuries. Later in the day Pereman was pronounced dead as a result of the injuries suffered from his fall.

Pereman was a registered organ donor and according to his wife, a number of people received his organs.

The helicopter drew a significant amount of attention when it landed at Mamquam Elementary School just a few hundred metres away from the accident scene. Squamish Fire Rescue and the RCMP assisted by keeping the landing zone clear.

Onlookers gathered around the school and watched the helicopter touch down then take off after Pereman was transferred from an ambulance to the helicopter for the flight to Vancouver.

The accident is under investigation by WorkSafe BC and the Coroner's Service.