On November 26th 2018, Valérie Théorêt, a 37-year-old mother and her 10-month-old daughter Adele Roesholt, were attacked by a bear near their cabin in the northeast of Mayo, Yukon.

The tragic incident occurred sometime between 10 AM  and 3 PM, while the mom and her child were out for a walk. The two victims had been alone near the cabin when they were attacked.

It’s the child’s father, Gjermund Roesholt, who found the two bodies, at around 3 PM near their cabin.

According to The Canadian Press, the 37-year-old woman’s partner was returning to the cabin and was charged by the bear, but he shot and killed it before discovering the bodies.

Valérie was native from Quebec and was a French immersion teacher at a local elementary school, in Whitehorse, on Yukon territory. She worked at the school for approximately seven,almost eight years.

Valérie Théorêt was also active in the association and in the Whitehorse community.

“Théorêt was a “magnet to kids”, and always brightened a room with her presence” said Rene Lapierre, a friend of hers.

The little family had been trapping in the Einarson Lake area for the last three months while Valérie was on maternity leave.

Valérie was really appreciated by everyone. “Théorêt was a young woman, full of energy, known across the community because she was involved in so many things” said Isabelle Sablesse, executive director of an association in Yukon.

Some tests will be performed on the grizzly’s death body  to try to find out why it attacked the woman and her 10-month-old daughter.

Experts have shared different theories for the  grizzly’s attack but the most popular one is that the woman surprised the bear. It was possibly hurt or sick and felt threatened, and attacked the vulnerable woman and her baby.

Roxanne Stasyszyn, a spokeswoman, says that the coroner’s service and the RCMP are still investigating about that tragedy.

Written by: Taony Jomphe

Edited by: Florence Bouchard, Annabelle Mainguy, Marie-Maxime Geoffroy, Maude Bérubé, Valeria Claro