Dusty.. we miss you and your infectious laugh and personality... and wish you were here.

Love Uncle Rick & Auntie Jenn

Dusty,
11 years ago today we lost someone simply irreplaceable. The word unfair does not capture the heavy weight of a beautiful life taken too soon or of the feeling of longing to have had more time. Today I reflect on your memory & on the time I was lucky enough to have spent with you by my side. I grieve the years that we’re lost & the chance to have made things right. You are the warmth of the sun on my shoulders, the gentle rustling of the leaves, the sparkle reflecting off of the water & the piece that will always be missing from my heart.
Sending love to your family on this difficult day & missing you always,
Sami

I only ever crossed paths with Dustin over the summer visiting him at work at that sports shop in westhills (it's been so long I can't believe I'm blanking on the name), but at the time as a social, ambitious 15 year old, he was like the definition of THE coolest guy, exactly the kind of guy I wanted to be when I started high school.

I've shared this story with Dustin's family in the past but something happened just yesterday that was so profound I felt the need to share it.

One of the first times I met Dustin in 2011, he gave me a deal on a bunch of different generic, cool, colored hoodies made by a very specific brand that I barely see around anymore.

I gave them to my brother as a gift, and he had a color for almost every day of the week. He LIVED in them, and had those hoodies until just a few years ago until they were borderline unsanitary.

All this time has passed, and I've since moved many cities and now live in Brooklyn. To this day I have not seen another one of those hoodies anywhere, but sure enough, at a thrift store in Brooklyn LITERALLY YESTERDAY, I found the exact one I bought my brother. It immediately brought me back to that moment, and I now own a new favourite hoodie.

I feel a little out of place here as this space is full of people that knew Dustin so well, whereas I only got to know the tip of the iceberg so I do not mean to impose, but I wanted to share this as I met him in such an impressionable time in my life and yesterday I felt like he just tapped on my shoulder and said hello.

Sending my love to Laura and the family through this terribly sad day, but that your son is still out there making an impression on what I'm sure is a countless amount of people through his spirit, myself included.

Reliving this horrible day, not by choice. There are no words to describe the heartbreak or emotions . Missing you Dusty
Love always Mom & Dad

Sempre ricordato, mai dimenticato

My best friend, today if you were still with us, we would be celebrating everything that makes you unique. We'd share memories, laughs and overall warmth, believing there would be more in the future. It's been so many birthdays without you Dusty. While I wish there were many many more, I know how fortunate all of us have been to have shared this world with you.

I miss you every day.

Mikey

Our Dust bunny,Nothing has been the same since you have been gone . We miss your laugh , your smile, your humour and most of all your love and caring…..Today you graced us with your beautiful soul , a very special day we will always hold close in our hearts. Be free our little angel and share your light. Until we meet again, Love mom & dad

Happy Birthday Dustin , today is and will always be a special day , we miss your smile and how you never judged anyone , you were a great example of what love is all about , hope your celebrating with nonna and nonno , love Auntie Sandra , Olivia and Allan

Remembering with a smile your sweet, kind and loving nature. Your life will forever be a blessing for everyone who knew you.
Judith & David

Non ci dimenticara mai

We will never let today, July 17th, become just another day, because it will always be your special day.
Happy Birthday in Heaven dear Dusty.
We are celebrating your joyful spirit in our hearts.
Love Auntie Gayle & Uncle Lawrence. 

Happy Birthday to a very special grandson. Went to the Stampede and thought about how you had great plans for us to enter the sale. Know you would have had great success and it would have been fun to go along for the ride. So many plans and memories! Love you always!

Happy heavenly birthday Dust
I can’t believe how much time has passed already without your infectious smile here earth-side with us, it truly isn’t fair. I know you and nonna are celebrating your special day together up there.

Love you xo

Happy Birthday young man, i cant believe how time has flown by. I hope your eating bacon and wearing some very colourful clothing. I think of you often and really miss your enthusiasm and kind loving heart. Love you, Char

Dusty your beautiful smile and artistic flare with your kind heart will never be forgotten. I am sure when the day is perfect filled with sunshine and warmth you have something to do with it ❤️ Katerina Gilbert

Non dimentica mai. Ricordiamo sempre

It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember.
Love and miss you Dusty at Christmas time & always...

Auntie Gayle and Uncle Lawrence

Missing Someone Is An Indescribable Feeling
Missing someone whom you know you'll
never get to see, touch and hug anymore
is an indescribable feeling.
Some kind of emptiness
nothing and no one can ever fill.
A loneliness that is deeply felt by your soul.
Tears shed not through your eyes
but flows from the core of your heart. Love mom an dad

Dusty, yesterday we found a picture of you at the acreage after you were riding Woody and had skinned your knees but refused any sympathy. You remind us of how much you were determined to live life to the fullest..and that reminds us every day to do the same. Miss your smile and laughter and love your spirit!

Uncle Rick and Auntie Jennifer

You were a ray of sunshine in our lives and you can never know how much joy you brought us and how many memories we have. Thank goodness for those memories as there is never a day goes by that we don’ t think of you and recall a special moment. Love you and miss you, Grandma Betty and Grandad

Dustin 10 years with out you & not a day goes by where I don’t think of you & miss you. You were truly one of a kind and the world was a better place with you in it. Love always, Samibear ❤️

May his memory forever be for a blessing

it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years ago today though i only got know you got a short while i’ll never forget your smile your laugh and your beautiful kind energy i know you touched many lives and those people will be thinking of you today .
My heart goes out to Dana Laura and Cody today ❤️

Always in our heart, Dusty was a special soul that will never be forgotten. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family on this heartfelt anniversary. ❤️

We miss you Dusty. On this day our thoughts and prayers go out to your Mom & Dad and all your family. Rob & Joyce ❤️

10 years, seems a long time but feels like yesterday. I think of you often and miss you lots. Until we meet again. Love you
Char

Ten years “ and many tears .The hole in our hearts reminds us of how much we miss you every day. As long as we have faith we continue on this grief journey in hope that we will meet again. Your shining light will forever live in our memories….
Love always Dusty
Mom & Dad

Carissimo sei sempre in mente e rimani nel cuore

Oh how time flies, a full decade. Thinking of you today and I know countless others are as well. Feels like yesterday we let all those balloons go at Central. Sending my love to you up there, your family and massive circle of those that love you and carry you with them everyday.

Today we would be celebrating together - making even more memories. I miss you dearly Dusty, especially your energy. We had so many great memories over the years and I wish badly we were together to ring in 28 years old.

I celebrate in your memory and the joy your brought my life growing up.

I love you always.

Mikey.

Dear Sweet Dusty today is a special day that we will never forget we miss you and will always remember what the real meaning of love is , you taught us

Happy Birthday young man. I still remember those stampede days you were out chauffeur, lol. I think of you often and know we will see you again. I miss you and love you lots.
Char

Thinking about you today. We would always have such a blast this time of year during the stampede. Missing you so much and wish we could be celebrating together.
Love Day

Dustin,
Thinking of you on this special day and all the memories we shared together. 
Happy Birthday, we miss you very much…we know you are “Smiling Down” on us. ♥️
Love Uncle Lawrence and Auntie Gayle

Even though your not here to celebrate ur 28 th Birthday with us, I pray that you know how much you meant to all of us. Our hearts are filled with happy memories of you on this day. Love always
Mom & Dad

Miss you terribly as always! Christmas will never be the same without you, you always had that special spirit that can never be replaced. Decorated your tree this year and added our special 2021 ornament, a tradition that seemed to mean so much to you. Love forever, Grandma and Grandad

Feliz Navida,nuestro querido amigo. Te tenemos siempre en nuestros corazones. 
Con mucho Amor.
Pati,Sheyla y Jaira.

Our Dear Dusty, Nine Christmas’s without you, a terrible milestone….we miss you more then ever! Sure could use one of your hugs right now. Always in our hearts. Love Mom an Dad

Dusty,
Although the years have passed, your memory will never fade. You are with me in everything I do. Thank you for always looking over me & know that I miss you more than words can ever explain.
Rest easy My angel ❤️
Until we meet again,
Sami

Dusty, we miss you soooo much. We think of you all the time but especially this time of year. Just know you will always be missed and always a special place in our hearts ♥️. Love Rob & Joyce

Dusty, July 31st will always be the most difficult day of our lives,…. But we try to remember all the beautiful things you have taught us….Smile always , love always and accept always. We will always be grateful for our time together.
Love Mom and Dad.

Thinking of and missing you Dusty. We were with Grandma "Betty" and Gramps last night at the Stampede and had a toast in your memory.... miss your smiling face and never ending laughter..
Xoxo
Uncle Rick & Auntie Jenn

Dear Dusty,
Memories of you always make us smile. ❤️
I can still hear your laughter when we took you & Cody to the Gopher Museum.
Happy Birthday to our dear sweet nephew!
We will miss you always,
Love Auntie Gayle & Uncle Lawrence xoxo

Happy Birthday dear Dustin ❤️ Miss everything about you and are thinking of you especially today ,

Thinking about you today up there. Can’t believe it’s been 9 years. Lots of love man to you and your family. Think about you all the time ❤️

Dusty we know you’re in a wonderful place and you’re celebrating your birthday with the angels ❤️Always in our hearts forever. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Trev and Kat ❤️

Dusty,It’s hard to believe it was 27 years ago that I barely made it off the tarmac to bring u into this world…. I can’t even begin to tell u how much joy you brought into our lives. Your kind loving heart shines its light thru us every day but especially today ….Love you with all my heart and soul
Mom

Thinking of your goodness, humility and open heart, Dusty. Still a shining beacon for us all.
Judith & David

Miss you more and more every year it seems. Just try to remember all the great times we had, the many laughs and some of your quirky jokes. Love you forever and think of you daily, Grandma

With Summer on the horizon I think about you more and more Dusty and all the action-packed memories we created as kids/teens and even very briefly as adults. I miss you a lot and your energetic spirit. You were in my dream the other night - I wish I wrote the details in my notes - but as with the past few dreams, there was a feeling of picking up right where we left off. I recall expressing; 'What's changed? It's been so many years since I've seen you and you've missed out on what's new in my life in the past 9 years.' There wasn't much discussion on the past though, more so what do we want to do this weekend, plans for the summer, bigger goals.

I write this because although myself - and several others - have been without you for many years, we're not entirely without your presence, sense of humour, optimism and overall kindness. I want to share stories with you so bad about the most fun times we had growing up, but I also know we will be able to do that in another life. Your presence can never be matched, but it's carried through in several actions, many words and every thought. I hang onto a future where I see you again.