A Williams Lake man was killed Saturday afternoon while rock climbing in the Black Velvet Canyon area of Nevada, west of Las Vegas.
Todd Jenkins, 41, the son of Barry and Judy Jenkins, died after falling an unknown distance at around 4 p.m. on March 7.
Todd was climbing with his brother Cory, however, the two men weren’t together when the accident happened.
“They were climbing in different areas,” Judy told the Tribune Tuesday morning. “Cory didn’t even see it happen.”
Williams Lake was Todd’s permanent address, his mom said, but he also lived in Vancouver and Lillooet with his partner Anna-Raye, and was often on the road travelling as the front man and vocalist of The Rebel Spell punk band.
“Williams Lake is where it all started,” his mom said of the band which toured numerous times throughout Canada and the U.S.
The close-knit family were just together at a concert at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre in Williams Lake recently, where Todd urged everyone to move the chairs and dance.
His own band was scheduled to begin a tour in Europe in April, where they’d toured two times before.
On the band’s web page Monday, March 9, a note said Todd, also known in the Vancouver music scene as Todd Serious, influenced the band members’ lives in a way that is beyond comprehension.
“This is completely sudden and unexpected and we’re still processing what has happened,” the post stated. “We’re taking a few days to figure it all out. This is pretty heavy for all of us.”
On March 9, the Georgia Straight newspaper described Todd as one of the most articulate and passionate members of the Vancouver punk scene, noting his lyrics reveal a commitment to social justice, First Nations sovereignty, and animal rights.
Todd is survived by his parents and brothers Cory and Leigh.