Living with, loving, and being loved by Brendan was an honour that cannot be put into words.

I am a better man for having grown up by his side these past few years, and the incredible gift of living with him is something I will forever cherish. He became my brother and one of my best friends.

Finding him reading or napping—or the reverse, him finding me napping and deciding to lay on top of me and smooch me on the cheek—are moments I will forever remember. He always challenged everyone around him to always do and be their best, and he held himself to the same high standard.

Brendan was profoundly vulnerable, unafraid to express all emotions without holding back—a rare and admirable trait. We’ve shared countless laughs, tears, and mountain peak views together.

I eat and live healthier, and I have a stronger, more developed mind because of Brendan’s deep influence on my life.

I feel him with us now, just in a different form. He is at peace, and his love for us all continues to resonate.

What a gift. And wow, what an honour to have known this man.

I met Brendan at the end of the pandemic after several shared phone conversations, and then finally meeting to go to a metal show in Vancouver. Our paths crossed again when I moved back to Calgary, and Brendan decided to join me in my home. Over the next 18 months, we became family. We sang and danced, cooked meals, ate raspberries, barbecued steak, and my cat decided she would be his baby instead of mine. Brendan was a dear person in my life who was warm and generous to everyone he met. We shared hugs over relationship challenges and triumphs, our best metal songs, and congratulations for succeeding as students in art (him) and therapy (me). He asked me to shave his head in the kitchen after a particularly harrowing breakup, and kept the shaved ‘do until just recently. The posted picture is after the aforementioned haircut. For those that knew Brendan, he usually had the most epic hair. 

What feels most special to me about our time together was his unwavering belief in the goodness of people. He rescued me in -40 when my battery died in his Postie coat and giant boots. He was there for me, and made an incredible effort to stay in touch even after we lived in different houses. I will forever miss receiving voice messages from him, with funny voices, noises, and genuine warmth. Brendan’s loss leaves an incredible rip in our fabric that nothing will fill. It is my sincere gratitude and heartache to have known and loved this special person. 

“Hamburger. Hot dog.”

-Brendan