As his homeroom teacher, I have known Brendon only a short time but our experience together was incredibly memorable and significant. When Brendon joined my class, I was introduced to a furiously vibrating ball of energy, spirit, and soul. Brendon could rarely stop moving, always had an idea or thought to share, and yet showed maturity beyond his years in situations you would least expect it. He always had a story for us, and loved to showcase his hobbies or interests. He loved aircraft, especially fighter jets. He was interested in photography, and was proud of the photos he took. Brendon also cared about justice, and duty. He expressed a strong desire to serve in his country's armed forces, and took great pride in representing all service members and veterans as an Air Cadet. Most importantly though, even though he was my student, Brendon was also a teacher.

Brendon taught many lessons on the value of patience and compassion, not by his words but in his actions and in the way we navigated our days together. There was always this quality of a truly good human being within him, someone you wanted to nurture, encourage, and help develop to their fullest. Brendon loved to share his knowledge, and his eyes would light up when he was able to play the role of the teacher with someone else in the classroom. I think in his heart, Brendon thrived most when being listened to. He would regularly surprise you with his depth of thinking or observations, and was never shy about sharing his life experiences. As the father of a child in the same grade, I felt privileged to be around Brendon because it was a great reminder of why it is so important to look beyond the surface, to see the potential of the young man beneath it and treat each day as a blank slate, each one an opportunity to be better - something we would all want for our children at school. At the same time, Brendon's presence would encourage us all to remember that every child is unique, and each student brings different experiences, challenges, and feelings to school every day. Not every day can be their best day, but we always have the opportunity to make it better for them as teachers, friends, and as a school family.

Yet, despite what we do, many students arrive to school each day with a tremendous burden that we never realize or see. Unless we make the effort to ask, and to listen, some children will keep their burdens to themselves. And some are quite adept at making it seem like nothing is wrong, when in fact everything is. Scars are not always visible; the tragedy of Brendon's passing inspires all of us dedicated to his remembrance to ask these questions, and to listen patiently, with all your heart.

The loss of a child is the single most unspeakable horror I think any parent can imagine. The purpose of this fundraiser is to provide support to a family that desperately needs compassion and care at this time, as they navigate life's hardest journey. I know from my own experience that these funds are crucial to help with bill payments, groceries, and easing life's other challenges as they arise, so I implore all of you - as members of the Percy Baxter School community, the town of Whitecourt, or other surrounding areas - to please contribute what you can in consideration of Brendon's memory.