Noah “Bird.”

It’s hard to believe that this April marks five years since we lost you. You were only 21, just weeks away from turning 22. Life has kept moving, but the space you left behind has never really filled. You are still missed in the quiet moments, in the music we hear, and in the memories that seem to show up when we least expect them.

You had a way of making everything feel alive. Whether you were behind a drum set, picking up a guitar, or just playing around on whatever instrument was nearby, music came naturally to you. It was something people were drawn to, just like they were drawn to you. You were thoughtful, intelligent, and curious about the world — studying French, travelling to France, and dreaming about where life might take you next.

Some of the memories I hold closest are from the last couple of years we had together. Simple days spent listening to music, talking, and just being siblings and friends at the same time. Those moments mean more to me now than I could have ever understood then.

The way so many people reached out after you were gone showed just how many lives you touched. You were loved deeply, and you still are. Not a day goes by that you aren’t thought of, talked about, or felt in some way.

We carry you with us always.
Love you forever, Bird.

My Levi, you were someone that pushed me to be my true self. I wish I would of been the one to push you to help overcome your addiction. I will cherish our moments, the good and the bad. You were a free chaotic spirit, but with a big heart that just wanted to find love and a family. I only wish you could of seen that you had it all along. Our son and I will honour you and you will always be in our hearts. I know that you are at rest now and finally at peace from those demons that haunted you. Forever my Levi. Until we meet again on the other side. Always, your Brenda

Remembered with love as deep as the ocean, heart-bursting pride, knee-buckling sorrow, and eternal gratitude for the years we had. Always with me in my heart dear boy,

To my cousin that left us too early, I love you dearly. Not a day goes by I don’t miss you. Forever 19 my angel. x

On April 8th, it was three years since we lost Manny to the toxic drug supply.
On April 14th, BC marks another year under a declared public health emergency.
Manny was 19. He should be turning 23 this month.
We remember his humour, his loyalty, his love of boxing and MMA.
This crisis is not abstract. It is sons, brothers, uncles.
It is Manny.

3 years ago my son’s behavior seemingly changed overnight. he liked to look nice, smell nice, keep his room clean, stay extra close to me, surprise me with little gifts, hold my hand every walk we went on ( oh how I miss that feeling) my baby reaching out and grabbing my hand not caring who saw or was around most 14 year old boys wouldn’t dare hold their mother’s hand in public especially not around any friends but not my baby he didn’t care he would tell me anything sometimes giving to much information he was the first to stick up and protect me in any way his actions proved the strength of his love for me then suddenly he became everything that he was not and everything he had always tried to protect me from he became unkempt dirty room disrespectful sneaky verbally abusive and then physically abusive being in recovery myself I knew why his behavior was so erratic I asked him over and over to tell me what was going on and that this person in front of me was not my conner he kept saying it’s only weed mom but I knew better. this all happened within a 3 to 4 months period I would Google search call whatever I could think of to get him help but sadly and unfortunately there’s not much out there for young teens I would beg and cry for him to talk to me and tell the truth.one day he came to me and said mom I need to talk to you I said absolutely we went out on the porch he said I’m telling you this because I trust you and you will know what to do I said ok Hun I’m all ears he said you have been right around me doing drugs I have been doing fentanyl I want to stop and not do it anymore I want to have a good life and not become harmful or homeless and struggling like the people we always see around us of course I cried and I was so proud of him through this conversation how he explained everything it was not a 14 year old boy it was a mature man so then acton kicked in he stayed home for the first week of detox I watched him like a hawk he was up I was up his only comfort through this was going for drives and I would massage his legs it seemed like we was in the car for that whole week for the second week I drove him almost 2 hours away in the middle of nowhere to my mother’s a little bitty town with his family all around after that week my mother became very ill and needed me to come and pick him up he said he was ready to come home but really didn’t want to and our other family members living there wasn’t able to keep him so I went to get him this was on Wednesday being home the first and half day was good but then I noticed on Friday he was high I became so very sacred, angry, sad, I went to my room and cried after a few minutes he came in and said mom walk to the gas station with me I said no I don’t want to be around you right now I’m scared angry and sad and he was the highest I had ever seen him he said please mom just walk with me again I said no he kept asking I said conner you can’t force me to do something I don’t want to to do he said please mom I will leave you alone after so I agreed as we was walking he reached out and took my hand I really thank Jesus for putting it in my heart to take his hand it was the last time I ever got to touch and hold his hand he passed away that very night I found him in the driver seat of my car and his father was on a church camping trip to get baptized I was alone for two days not able to get ahold of my husband everyone had turned their phones off keeping the moment for God my son’s funeral fell on his 15th birthday I miss him oh so very much