The management and staff at a popular restaurant in Grenville are in mourning following the death of an employee.
A social media post from Fromage et Cie owner Nathalie Malo shared that Johan Alexandro Garcia, who worked at the restaurant known for its varieties of poutine and cheese manufactured on-site, was killed as a result of a collision between his vehicle and a moose on Route 148 on the way to work on the morning of Monday, May 26.
Sûreté du Québec Sergeant Marc Tessier said that at around 4:30 a.m Monday morning, emergency services were called to a collision between a vehicle and a moose on Route 148 in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge. The driver suffered serious injuries. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Route 148 was closed in both directions for several hours to allow for analysis of the scene.
Malo shared that Johan was from Mexico and had come to Canada to work with his brother Aldo and cousin David, who also work at Fromage et Cie.
“Since the pandemic, I believe that foreign workers have allowed us to be open every day, from breakfast to dinner, and they also enable the production of our cheese. I am extremely grateful to them,” wrote Malo.
“Johan was a dedicated, cheerful, generous, and universally appreciated worker. His sudden passing leaves a huge void in our team, but especially in the hearts of his loved ones,” she wrote in a message accompanying the online fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses and to allow Aldo and David to travel home to Mexico to spend time with their father and two other brothers, Ismael and Alan. Information about how to contribute is available at https://www.gofundme.com/f/johan-alexandro-garcia.
“If you’ve ever met Johan, you know what a kind, cheerful, and genuine person he was.” Malo commented.
Malo said employees at Fromage et Cie are close-knit and have been supporting each other following the tragedy. The restaurant was closed for the day on Tuesday, May 27.
