‘ We’re not coping’
Grandfather shares deep hurt over tragic death of young Summerside man at Evolve Festival
Clifford DesRoches had great hopes for his grandson.
He had saved and invested a good deal of money to be used to pay for Dylan Champion’s postsecondary education.
Champion, 21, of Summerside was working at the Red Shores Casino in Charlottetown, his education put on hold for an undetermined period.
DesRoches was keen to see his grandson flourish, perhaps one day pursuing his passion for music.
“He wanted to get involved in music,’’ he says.
“Music was his life. Music was going all the time.’’
Sadly, Champion’s life would be cut short as music played all around.
He was attending his first Evolve Music Festival in Antigonish, N.S., over the weekend when he had a seizure on the concert grounds.
He died Tuesday at the Halifax Infirmary.
DesRoches is eager to learn the results of the autopsy performed on Champion Thursday.
RCMP Sgt. Alain LeBlanc in Halifax says police will not have the full results for a few weeks, and adds the results will not be made public.
Family, of course, will be informed of the outcome.
DesRoches says his grandson had a history of epilepsy; Champion had a seizure about five months ago.
He is not keen to entertain the thought that his grandson may have had a drug overdose, even though the young man was attending an annual event notorious for the high drug use by concert-goers.
If the autopsy does determine Champion died as a result of a drug overdose, DesRoches would like to see the festival shut down.
Yet regardless of how Champion’s life was ended, DesRoches, other family members, and friends are left mourning the loss a young man whose full potential will never be realized.
“We’re not coping good... it’s hard on us,’’ says DesRoches.
“It’s the last thing we expected. I love my grandson. I thought the world of him.’’
He describes his late grandson as being a very good boy, who was kind and quiet.
Carla Bourque, spokeswoman for Atlantic Lottery Corporation, says Champion’s death has saddened many people who worked with him at Red Shores.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this most difficult time,’’ says Bourque.
“He was well liked by staff and will certainly be missed.’’