Canadian student from Ukraine confirmed dead in France attack

An Edmonton university has confirmed that one of its students was killed in last week's truck attack in France.

MacEwan University said in a release that Mykhaylo Bazelevskyy, who was 22 and also went by the first name Misha, was among those who died July 14 in Nice.

The school said confirmation of his death came late Tuesday from French authorities and from his family.

"Few, if any of us, can comprehend the senselessness of what occurred in Nice," school president David Atkinson said is a statement. "There is no greater loss to a university than a student who has so much life and promise ahead of him."

Bazelevskyy — who was in the School of Business — had permanent resident status in Canada, but was travelling on a Ukrainian passport. His parents still live in Ukraine, but his brother and sister-in-law live in Edmonton.

He was one of five MacEwan students, who, along with a faculty member, were participating in a three-week entrepreneurship and innovation training program offered by the European Innovation Academy.

On the night of the attack, the group of MacEwan students was heading to the Promenade des Anglais to enjoy Bastille Day fireworks, but inclement weather convinced three of them to turn back.

Bazelevskyy and another student were on the promenade when the truck plowed into the crowd and chaos ensued.

No one else in the MacEwan group was hurt.

Bazelevskyy was active in student life at the school. He ran for student government, was a member of the men's cross-country team and was also a resident adviser.

"The nicest guy that anyone could meet," said fellow student and friend Amy Beard when Bazelevskyy was first reported missing last week. "Misha just always wanted to say hi to everybody in the hallway and he would always stop to talk to you. It didn't matter how busy he was. He's such a good-hearted person."

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley expressed her condolences.

"This young man had every right to believe that he was safe. He was in a democratic country that is committed to peace," she said. "Tragically, that feeling of safety was shattered for this innocent student, and for everyone in Nice, and in France."

Atkinson said the whole school feels the loss.

"I know that everyone joins me in expressing our profound sympathy to Misha's family at this terrible time," Atkinson said. "Misha will be deeply missed by his friends and family."