Ethiopian plane crash victim living in Winnipeg hoped to be a teacher, says friend

A plane crash victim who was living in Winnipeg had just been accepted to study to become a teacher, according to her good friend.

Jodie Layne posted a touching tribute on Instagram late Sunday about her friend, Danielle Moore, who was one of the victims of Sunday’s plane crash in Ethiopia.

“It’s hard to imagine Danielle as anything but fully alive,” Layne wrote. “Danielle was one of the most optimistic, bright, lively, curious, inquisitive, kind, generous, optimistic, effervescent, and determined people I have ever known. Danielle sparkled.

“After being in the classroom every day this past year, Dani had just been accepted into Teacher’s College and was going to make an incredible teacher.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "After being in the classroom every day this past year, Dani had just been accepted into Teacher's College and was going to make an incredible teacher.

“She was committed to justice and the environment and the people she loved.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu2m9ohg5fV/

Moore, 24, was identified as a victim of the crash on Sunday evening. Originally from Scarborough, Ont., Moore was on her way to Nairobi, Kenya, to partake in a major United Nations environmental conference — the UN Environment Assembly was set to begin on Monday in Kenya’s capital.

She posted on Facebook about her attendance at the conference just one day before the crash.

READ MORE: Ethiopian Airlines crash kills all 157 on board, including 18 Canadians

“I’m so excited to share that I’ve been selected to attend and am currently en route to the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya with United Nations Association In Canada and #CanadaServiceCorps / #LeadersToday! Over the next week I’ll have the opportunity to discuss global environmental issues, share stories, and connect with other youth and leaders from all over the world,” her Facebook post read.

Moore’s brother, David, says he was hit with the biggest grief he could have never imagined.

“It’s a lot of confusion. Someone that you’ve grown up with your whole entire life, who supported you in so many things,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's a lot of confusion. Someone that you've grown up with your whole entire life, who supported you in so many things," he said.

David said Moore was passionate about the environment. “She had such a bright future ahead of her and wanted to touch the world in so many different ways.”

He hopes she inspired people to find an interest in environment policy in their own communities.

According to her Facebook page, Moore studied marine biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax and spent a month at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences in 2015.

She was currently working both as a member of the clean-ocean advocacy group Ocean Wise and as an education lead with the popular coding school Code Mobile, Canada Learning Code’s mobile program.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Danielle Moore on the Ethiopian Air Flight 302 that claimed the lives of 157 people. Our hearts and condolences are with her family, friends, and colleagues as we all mourn this tragic loss,” said Melissa Sariffodean, CEO of Canada Learning Code.

“Danielle was a smart, passionate, and a friendly woman who dedicated her life to helping others. So much so that she would often take her vacation days to volunteer for the causes that were dear to her heart.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Danielle was a smart, passionate, and a friendly woman who dedicated her life to helping others. So much so that she would often take her vacation days to volunteer for the causes that were dear to her heart."

“Danielle had been a member of Canada Learning Code’s Code Mobile team in Winnipeg for almost a year, helping youth throughout Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut dream of what is possible and empower them with the skills and confidence to change the world through technology, while bringing Canadians from diverse backgrounds together.”

Read their full statement here.

A friend, who asked not to be named at the moment, told Global News that she went to school with Danielle in Halifax.

“A lot of my friends who were closer with her are really struggling right now, she was a pretty amazing person,” she said. “Out of respect for them and her family, I don’t feel comfortable saying more.”

Another close friend, Stephanie Foucault, says she spoke with Moore just hours before her flight.

“I just had this feeling that I just needed to talk to her and tell her that I missed her,” Foucault said.

When Foucault learned of the news, she said her heart dropped.

” I was in the car and my heart started pounding and I came into the house and sat down and I didn’t move for hours,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: " I was in the car and my heart started pounding and I came into the house and sat down and I didn't move for hours," she said.

While Moore’s family and friends still struggle with the painful loss, they hope people can learn about the initiatives she was passionate about.

“Keep pushing for sustainable development, keep pushing for climate action and just keep push for better protection of oceans in Canada,” Foucault said.