This Photo is of us all about three hours before the full moon really kicked off. 

Dust (and Bri), to be fair, was the talented artist amongst us. The two of them made us look pretty. No mean feat!! 

That night, and the following morning when Dustin burst into our room with a sign reading 'I love you' which he was using as the perfect ice breaker will live long in my memory. Hazy... but long. 

Mel Allen7:15am Nov 30

Missing you Dusty.

Andrea Catherine Montgomeryposted toDustin Steel

October 31 near Calgary via mobile

The first time we went trick or treating together I was 13, you were 14. I think Greg was 12. U ditched right away and sprinted ahead switching costumes on the fly and hitting every house at least twice. You got wayy more candy than us and were ruthless in trading. The last time I ever hit up a house trick or treating I think we were 15 or 16. But you were there :-) it was the rastas house with the lights up the pine trees. Hahaha wish you were here this time too buddy. Love u

Ben Evans Thinking of you right now! Crowded bar in danang on a Monday night... Hate and love you right now... You should be here!.... Get out of my head! Xxx  11:59am near Hòa Vang, Quang Nam-Da Nang

12:03pm Oct 22 I'm sorry ok??? I'll never get to argue with you again.. But I was right....Urrrgggg xx wish you were here...

Nikki Williams ffs dustin, you kept me awake heaps last night!!! hogging my dreamspace for 10 hours straight. Worth every second of lost sleep, though, to see that smile, so big and so real. You were surfing, of all things. In reality, I never even got to see you wakeboard, let alone surf. You were pretty impressive on the waves there last night mind! Love you always x x x  

I think of Dustin all the time and miss him very much. He was one of my closest friends in highschool even though I was a year younger than all of those guys they still let us hang out with them haha. I remember all the parties over at Tim Miller's house, or Brittany's house, and sometimes also at your place or at my house! Dustin was always the life of every party and that is how I remember him. I don't think I ever once saw him upset, or even without a smile on his face to be honest! That made him the best for cheering you up after a bad day. I always wished I could be more like him with his carefree attitude, it seemed like nothing bad ever phased him he would just brush it off like no big deal. After Dustin and all those guys graduated I didn't see him as often, but over the past year I seemed to run into him constantly and it was like no time had passed, he was exactly the same Dustin. I'm sure you've seen posts I have made to his wall about him coming into my work and staying longer than he intended, but we really did always get carried away with talking about all the fun times we have had in our highschool days. That, and making plans for future parties and - as we did every summer since I've known him - plans for him to come over so I could take him into lake bonavista for a swim, unfortuantely we never actually did that plan, despite talking about it every single year! I work at a tanning salon where Dustin came to tan before he left on his trip, my boss is Chris Paterson, I think you may know him, I think he said he used to be roomates with one of your other sons, such a small world. I am definitely glad that he did come in for all of those tans before he left though, and I always loved seeing him out at ranchmans and getting him to come line dance with me haha. Dustin really was a unique guy, I don't think I've ever met anybody quite like him. But I just wanted to let you know that aside from being such a good friend to everyone he met, he really is an inspiration too, for the way that he loved life and the happiness that he embraced. I will miss Dustin so much, but I'm so glad that all of the memories that I have of him are of him happy and enjoying every possible minute that he could. One of the many things that I was thankful for this Thanksgiving is that I knew Dustin and was able to call him a friend, I really consider myself blessed for that. You raised an amazing man! 

Jamie Morrissey Hey bud, 
Lit a candle for you at St. Patricks cathedral in New York. It's right up front where'd you like to be. Center of attention. Missing you more than ever man. What it would be like to hear that laugh again... A thousand times I love you.

I told this story at his Hanoi Memorial but I think I'd like to tell it again here for posterity. 

Dusty, Mack and Myself arrived in Hanoi around the same time. It was purely coincidental. I had met the boys on Koh Phangnan and we hung out for all of our time there. Even getting painted up for the festivities with a bunch of other weird Canadians. I was the odd one out. Silly Irish. So I rock up to the hostel in Hanoi, walk in the door after my 18 hours travelling and who do I see... Dusty's goofy smile and Macks ridiculous hair. We got jobs and the rest is history. 

This is a story that always make me laugh, always reminds me of Dusty's attitude.

The three of us had went out to buy supplies for our upcoming tours, we were like 3 versions of McGyver, coming home with duct tape, industrial sized saran wrap, skirts, ladies underwear (clean!!!!), some masks, a variety of fancy dress items etc. God knows how we expected to put all this together.

On tour, it did, funnily enough, come together! We were giving out after dinner, pre drinking games speech. The one where we explain the rules to the hordes of unruly backpackers, the one where we try to get things rolling, the one where people seem to listen but we know...

Anyway, mid rule explaination the expected happens, some girl starts talking over us. We try the diplomatic route, 'Come on dude, only 8 rules left, you'll enjoy it more if you listen'. She quietens... for approx 3 minutes. Up she pops again, and more of the same approach 'Will ya shhhh, nearly there'. Again same response. We continue. Clockwork... 3 minutes later again, honestly, you wouldn't believe it... we look at each other, and Dusty makes her a promise.

'If you dont shut up until Im finished these rules Im gonna Saran wrap you to that wooden pillar'.

And she didn't. And he did.  

That'll learn 'er. 

High Five Dust! 

Dallas J Faulkner Wednesday, Aug. 15/12 at 11:28 am.    Happy to say the fukengruven is running in tip top shape the legend lives on ! But such a big seat to fill...... all I can say is I'll do my best. Just the way you'd want me to.. I miss ya bro, the days don't get any easier without ya ...much love buddy 

Jamie Morrissey     8:59pm Aug 14

Hey bud,

First time I took off one of my bracelets for you. It is now attached to a rock and dropped in the ocean in my favorite place in Tillicum. So much harder to do than I thought. Haha you would have made so serious fun of how hard I cried.
 
Forever in my heart, love.
A million times I love you. 
Welcome to one of the places you had yet to travel to. 
In my heart forever Dustin. A piece of me went with you 
Xoxoxoxoxo

Shared by Mel Allen

on 08/03/2012

 I had the pleasure of going with Dustin to get his ticket for Thailand. First wings and beer at bull as the standard thing we always grabbed to eat then the mall for his ticket the. Last but not least the gym for a work out.

Dustin was the only person who could have gotten me to work out after filling me full of beer and wings but he did. I have so many memories and I really appreciate everyone whose contributed and set up this website, a huge thank you.

Cara Lizzi

Aug 10/12 9 hours ago

I really miss you coming into my work and ending up staying to chat for a solid hour when I probably should have been doing something productive. We always ended up reminiscing about high school parties and making plans for future parties where we'd get all the old crew together again hahah.

I'm still in total disbelief that you're gone, I feel like you're just away on some adventure still. I keep expecting to run into you as we always randomly did, or see you at ranchmans, or get a "CARAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! :D" message on bbm since that seems to be how you always started our conversations hahah. I'm always thinking of you Dustin, miss you and love you lots

Ben Evans

10:14am Aug 9

miss you brother.... think about them insane card tricks you used to show me on castaway everyday!!!.... still blow me away thinking about them....

I met Dustin through a mutual friend, Emily Song, while we all attended SAIT. There were 4 of us that would meet at the campus pub every Thursday during our break between classes, and it quickly became everyones favorite day of the week at school. I have such fond memories of each Thursday, sitting on the patio all the way into October while we chatted and had as many jugs of beer as we could. We all had in common our love of travel, particularly to South East Asia, and that occupied most of our conversation, as we had all been to different destinations and would share travel stories. Dustin at times didn't make it to class in the morning before the break but ALWAYS made it to Thirsty Thursday. At the end of our break we all made our way to our classes, not being particularly ready to learn. I was so happy when Dustin told me he was going to Vietnam, one of my very favorite countries and I can only imagine the experiences he had. 

I worked out of my home during the '80's and the '90's. When I built the garage I added an office with a walk in on the upper level. Several of our boys have used it as their pad during the last 10 years.

Dustin turned it into party central. A fridge, water cooler, microwave, loft, futon, computers, high end game systems, fireplace, air conditioning, audio and widescreen TV. Out the front door, a hot tub! Tough ehh!!

This is the vault that won Dustin a city wide championship. Amazing air! He makes it look so simple.

Could you imagine dressing like this and then heading downtown. Here he is with Mark, off to have some Halloween 2011 fun.

As good as he could do things, he did have his ups and downs. All one would see was his cheerie grin and hearty laugh and away he would go, until he succeeded!

Dustin Arrived in Vietnam, early in January 2012. He stayed with Hanoi Backpackers in Hanoi, and eventually joined them as a "tour guide". During the week he would work with staff at "Castaway Island" teaching climbing, wake boarding and drinking games, helping everyone to party hard.

On the weekends, he would work at the hostel hosting guests. It was said by his employer, that he had an instant rapport with anyone and that he never stepped across the line with the guests. He was muched loved by everyone.

One of his responsibilities at Castaway Island in Hanoi Bay was to instruct guests in the art of "Wake Boarding". This is a favourite photo of him with the "hammer down" and just going for it!

This was taken on trip to the Okanagan in British Columbia the summer of 2011.

Dustin, always had a plan, had it written down and was working his way though it, and checking off what was completed. 

Janie and I, when going through the paperwork for his car found his project sheet, items checked off and yet to be completed.

This kid was organized! 

Hunting, fishing and camping with his friends really pulled at Dustin. He took the proper firearms safety and wildlife courses and qualified.

Dustin's mum, Kim graduated from Dr. E. P. Scarlett High School in '89.

I was amazed when watching Dustin playing his video games. He would be moving his resources around the screen, while attacking and defending them, negotiating for more resources, while establishing alliances with other players, on line,  all while typing at 200mph!

Typing! Accuracy! This guy was amazing. Here is where it may have started. 

We all enjoyed visiting the coast to share a vacation with family over the years. We did the western trail ride thing when visited here and had fun doing the ocean, kayaking, sailing thing when in Nanaimo.

Janie and I are very greatfull for Calgary's indoor soccer programs. Both Matt and Dustin were in soccer in their early years.

Can you imagine, if all 7 boys had been in hockey! Our guys enjoyed and excelled in most sports.

Along with his "brothers" Dustin was active in Scouting. Here he is as a Cub Scout.

For a few years, one quarter of the troop was my boys!   So...  they made me become assistant scoutmaster! 

Most of Dustin's other 6 brother's (actually, his uncles) experienced spelunking (Cave exploration) as Scouts.

Vietnam and Thailand sit on huge ancient limestone formations riddled with amazing caves. In fact the largest cave in the world, Son Doong, in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, can be found in central Vietnam with a single chamber over 4.5 km long.

Here we see Dustin spelunking with friends.

Here we see him dressed for climbing in the tropics. Other photos show him instructing at Castaway Island and acting as "safety", supervising other climbers. 

When he travelled to Thailand in 2010 he arranged for scuba training so that he would be certified when diving elsewhere. I believe he also took additional certification to instruct or dive with novice divers.

Dustin was always game for anything. Here he is jamin' with Ampy on a trumpet. You have known him to play the guitar. I've heard him picking out some advanced tunes.

Janie and I found some keyboard teaching books and we assume that he also had intentions on playing the piano and keyboards.

When he was 19, Dustin traveled with Ena and her family to Europe. He traveled part way with them towards Serbia and then toured through Split and down the western coastal Croation islands to Debrovnik. Eventually joining back up with the family for the return trip to Canada.

For a while, he was having difficulty grasping math in high school, but worked out some tutoring with his teacher. He ended up as an honour student, using scholarships to help put him through S.A.I.T. in accounting and management studies. 

Elsewhere here, in Adriana's story, Ena's younger sister, he is thanked for "paying it forward" passing his tutoring along, helping her with her math and as she says, "saving her butt!". It is evident, from other stories, he would mentor his friends, encouraging them with thier goals and studies.

His plan was to return from the far east to Calgary and get his head down for 10 years. He was convinced that he wouldn't be able to budget an extended holiday and do what he had planned, until later. He was checking out corporations that had liberal education programs, to help him continue his education. He wanted to manage or consult "big time" by the time he hit 30!

Dustin, seemed most capable in anything he did. From his teens, he was an experienced motorcyclist. He rode here in Calgary, abroad in Europe and of course in most of the countries he visited, in the Far East. This photo, is a favouite, showing him having fun touring with his friends. 

It is rare to find Dustin not wearing a helmet and from comments heard, he encouraged the use of North American CSA approved gear. Apparantly, much more effective that the local helmets.

You can view, Dustin's falling off a really high release from the rope swing, landing on his back. You can find the clip of this jump in his `Celebration of Life`video.

He could take a hit and still keep his sense of humour. The attached photo attempts to show how red and irritated his back was after the splash landing!

You might remember last year 2011 Dustin's Honda CRX broke down. We were able to discover that the distributor bearing was shot. He went online, did some research and was able to find a replacement and installed it with help from a friend for a fraction of the cost. 

Wade and Trev were amazed at the deals he could find to save money, especially when travelling with him.

He loved solving any kind of a puzzle. He spent months breaking into games, just to  take on the challenge. He cracked one game that had 50 other games imbeded and never played any of them! Cracking it, was his game!

Here is Dustin as city champion in pole vaulting, his last year at Scarlett. He always excelled at everything he put his mind to.

Dustin was always a "hands on", "can do" character. With our large family John, Jane, Steve, Kim, Wade, Trevor, Chris, Mike, Matt and Dustin, we learned to fix, mend, scrounge and make do with whatever was available. 

Here, Dustin is helping his "Ampy" assemble a "digital" piano. He would later be found jamin' with a trumpet to some tunes being played.  

Dustin called me "Ampy" instead of Grampy or Grandpa. Even, as an adult, he still used the term. I miss him.

A number of small huts, on stilts, are on Castaway Island.  As you can see there are no walls, but you can let down bamboo curtains, if required.  Note the mosquito netting for the evenings.  This is the place Dustin worked most of the time, taking people out wake boarding, or possibly rock climbing.  Castaway was party central and I'm sure many a memory was made here!!!   He would live here for the week and then head to Hanoi for the weekends.

Some of Dustin's ashes were buried on Castaway Island.  This is the view looking out from his burial site. 

Dustin's mom passed away December 12, 1997 at 3 o'clock. It was Dustin's request that the time of day be recorded on the plaque. To commemorate the date an anonymous donor provided a brass marker mounted on a bench in Kimmy's favourite park, Babbling Brook.

This was also a favourite hang out for Dustin and his friends. Janie, has arranged to combine Dustin's and Kim's information on a new plaque. This will happen later in August. 

Dustin passed away at age 23 at 3 o'clock on his mother's May 15th birthday. She would have been 40 years of age.

Oh Great Spirit
whose voice I hear
in the wind.

Hear me, I'm small and weak
I need your strength and wisdom.

I walk in beauty
and make my eyes ready to behold
the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to your voice.

Let me learn the lessons
you have hidden in every leaf and Eagle.

I seek strength not to be greater than my Brother
and to fight my greatest enemy, myself.

With the eyes ready to behold the red and purple sunset,
so when my life fades its a fading sunset
and my Spirit may come to you without shame.

Say 3X:     Iu una cu
                 Hey ya my a
                 Hey ma ho


"As taught to Trev by a First Nations Shaman for this occasion".

Buried with him also was an Eagle's feather, signifying that the person is being acknowledged with gratitude, with love and with ultimate respect, along with the burnt smudge of sweetgrass and sage, used in the ceremony for purifying objects and people which helps heal the spirit and the soul.


It was decided by the family to leave some of Dustin's ashes in Halong Bay, where he worked. His brothers discovered that burial honoured local customs and chose not to cast them in the sea as was first considered.

Some of Dustin's ashes were buried on "Castaway Island", (we're still missing the official name for this island)  that is the spot in the picture with the circle of stones and shells.  The site is at the extreme left and back of the beach when approaching from the water.

During the ceremony the heaven's opened up with tremendous thunder and lightening, and it rained like no other day, monsoon style. The Vietnamese said it was Dustin's tears for those he left behind.

The attending friends and his three brothers circled the grave and in one motion pushed in the sand to fill the excavation, all were drenched and Dustin was laid to rest.

The following day the Vietnamese brought in a load of bricks from the mainland, to erect a shrine over the spot.  It would be tended to for years to come, with prayers of incense and fresh food. The local people also gave Matt, Trev and Wade a gift of $50 US for Dustin's parents, which is a lot of money for them to give as a gift of honour.  We were truly blessed by the Vietnamese people of the island and thank them with love from our hearts.


 

I walked with a legend and talked with a legend.  It was like when Pac and Big got shot and the tears just dropped, but you were our friend, you walked the same streets we walked, so the pain's more real, more raw, more deep.  We know your soul is not in the ground, it's in our hearts.  I won't be making your memorial cause I'm way out of town, but I know you will be watching from above, just smiling..... you'll see the masses, lighting their candles and lifting their glasses.  There's not another and there never will be ...Dustin Steel  with: Ben "Rusty" Turncliffe, Sam Potter, Tom Jermyn, Hosh Wall, Taco Sluijter, Luke VB, Luke Poulson, Ben Evans, Mackenzie Oseen, Jordon Mercer, Rio Roxanne Domingo, Chris McBride, James Lander and Chris Ahre.