Ray of sunshine

Close to 100 bricks laid at ICMP

When Christine Stetson and Dustin Lord were children, their father said they could paint their new rooms the colour of their choice.

“We went to the store and Dustin chose the brightest canary yellow. I thought, ‘Oh, Mom’s not going to like this’,” Stetson said with a laugh as she describes her younger brother as someone who had a bright personality.

Recently, members of her family were among the people who came together at International Children’s Memorial Place (ICMP) to pay tribute to loved ones with the annual Path of Remembrance Ceremony, where bricks were laid in their honour.

Maitland MacIsaac, president of the board, discussed how people paint the lives of others with different colours.

“He mentioned yellow,” Stetson said in a quiet voice. “That reminded me of Dustin.”

Cheryl Lord said her son, at the age of 24, was killed in a motorcycle collision three years ago, in Emerald, close to the ICMP. Dustin was just minutes from his and his fiancé’s house when a vehicle cut in front of him.

“We didn’t get to say goodbye,” said Cheryl. “Not one more hug; not one more smile.”

Her family decided it was time to honour Dustin in a permanent way that wasn’t a headstone.

“It’s a beautiful place,” she said, while standing in the Everliving Forest on a sunny Sunday.

The June previous to Dustin’s death, his good friend, Joey Reeves, had passed away.

“Both of the bricks are together,” said Cheryl. “I thought it was only fitting for two friends to be close.”

The mother and daughter want to remind everyone to be cautious while driving.

“A split second of carelessness, you’re taking part of our family,” said Stetson. “Now instead of having him here, we have a brick in the ground.”

Cheryl said most of the organizers of ICMP have lost a child, so they understand that others in the same situation need somewhere to go to reflect.

“The scope of their work is phenomenal. I applaud the volunteers wholeheartedly for their dedication.”

Stetson added it’s nice to remember her brother in a place that isn’t a cemetery, as the ICMP is “uplifting”.

Even before the brick was laid, Cheryl would go there to sit on the benches, watch the water in the pond and cry.

“It might be the only quiet place in my world, but it’s here.”

“Ferocious” was the word she used to describe Dustin.

“He had a Mohawk and tattoos, but the minute he smiled, it just lit your whole world,” she said.

Stetson said Dustin’s room at their parents’ house is still that bright yellow.

“And it will never change,” said Cheryl. “He was my sunshine.”