Nykole King
Regina Leader-Post
Few people in Regina knew the 11-year-old son of Marina Hills and Sergio Losco before he died of carbon monoxide poisoning less than a week before Christmas.
The family had only lived in Regina for 17 days when a boiler failure in their Albert Street apartment caused a carbon monoxide leak on Dec. 19, 2025, leading to the death of Henry Losco. Sergio and Henry were both unconscious in the apartment when Hills discovered them upon returning home from work.
The father survived. His son didn’t.
The Regina community came together to support the grieving parents on Saturday by hosting a fundraiser at the Italian Club of Regina. Attendees had an opportunity to learn about what made Henry a special child as they mourned his loss together.
“I haven’t been doing well and I kind of wrote myself off,” Hills said a day after the fundraiser. “But you know, the community … (has) reminded me that even in all this pain I feel that love can still win.”
Sergio relocated his family from Italy to Canada several years ago. They lived in B.C. as well as St. John’s, Nfld., before moving to Regina last year so that Hills, who is Canadian, could accept a new job opportunity.
More than 100 people gathered for Saturday’s event, which included a dinner and raffle organized by Regina’s Italian community. Some were complete strangers who wanted to support the parents during a time of profound grief after losing their young son, whom they described as a kind-hearted boy, a gifted chess player and an aspiring soccer goaltender.
It meant the world to Sergio that the fundraiser was attended by a former neighbour, who’d spoken with Henry about their shared love of soccer during an elevator ride. Henry’s mother said the woman, who was a soccer referee, was likely the only person who’d spoken with the boy, but his enthusiasm left an impression.
“That was one of the highlights of our night,” said Hills. “And I could talk about Henry, and she understood.”
The family has remained in the thoughts of the Regina community since Henry’s passing a little over 10 weeks ago. Saturday’s fundraiser was also attended by the first responders who were at the scene as well as the celebrant who led Henry’s funeral.
Even some members of a grieving mothers’ support group came in hopes that their shared experience with losing a child would help the couple feel less alone in their anguish.
When Regina’s Italian community heard about Henry, one member dropped off a grief journal while others helped the family move to a new apartment.
“They didn’t just organize an event,” Hills noted. “They created a space where Henry’s light could shine again through our community with love and kindness and through action.”
Some of the funds from the event are expected to go toward memorials for Henry in St. John’s. That includes a chess tournament to be held in his name by his former chess club and a lunch for his former classmates on May 22, which was his birthday, at St. Bonaventure College.
Heather Njaa sat next to Hills at Saturday’s event. Njaa was a neighbour on the fourth floor who helped Hills perform CPR on her family members and call emergency services.
“We did have a bit of a cry together, but I feel like it’s been more healing than hurtful,” said Njaa, who added that she was glad to see Sergio healthy after suffering from a lung infection.
While the husband and wife don’t have ties to Regina, they feel like the community has wrapped its arms around them. They plan to stay in the city and seek accountability for the “completely preventable” death of their son while pushing for stronger legislation around carbon monoxide detectors — all in hopes that one day they’ll find peace.
“We have so much to fight for, for Henry, and we have so many people here that care about us,” added Hills. “We don’t plan on leaving any time soon.”
