A close friend has confirmed the identity of a woman who was tragically killed on January 5 in Saanich, British Columbia, as Laura Gover, a respected business professor at Vancouver Island University and Camosun College. Kelsea McLaughlin, who had a 25-year friendship with Gover, emphasized her role as a loving mother to her two young daughters. McLaughlin has initiated a fundraiser to support the children, aged seven and 11, in memory of Gover’s nurturing presence in their lives.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of a cherished friend, mother, and esteemed educator, McLaughlin highlighted the unnecessary and tragic nature of Gover’s passing. The fundraiser organized by McLaughlin has garnered close to $110,000 by Tuesday evening, with the intention of establishing a trust for Gover’s daughters to ensure their future well-being.
Saanich police recently announced the arrest of Muhammed Basar, identified by McLaughlin as Gover’s former spouse, on charges of second-degree murder in connection to the incident on Blair Avenue. Basar was taken into custody on the same day the authorities responded to the call. The case has been categorized as a “K file,” indicating a situation of alleged intimate partner violence, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service.
Camosun College expressed profound shock at the sudden loss of Gover, who had only recently joined the business school faculty in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience in post-secondary education and management training. The college community, including students, faculty, and staff, mourns the untimely passing of Gover, with college president Lane Trotter extending condolences and offering grief-counselling resources for those affected by the tragedy.