Two girls who died in central Alberta were celebrating birthday, parent in next room

SYLVAN LAKE, Alta. — Two girls were celebrating a birthday before they were found dead in a hotel room in central Alberta on Easter Sunday, one of their families says.

RCMP have said the deaths at a Best Western hotel in Sylvan Lake, Alta., were those of a 12-year-old girl from that community and of a 13-year-old from Red Deer, about 25 kilometres east.

The family of Olivia Johnson, 13, said in an emailed statement that the girls had a room next door to a parent, who would check in periodically.

“The night Olivia passed she was with a friend, enjoying a birthday gathering in the way most young women like to do — celebrating with a dinner with parents, swimming and doing each other’s makeup,” her family said.

“The hole Olivia has left in our hearts and in our lives is enormous, and our family is still trying to come to terms with the reality of not having her bounce into the house, spunky and smiling.”