A local family is expressing gratitude to the Aldergrove community following the death of a resident that was struck by a falling tree while walking along Robertson Crescent.
Jocelyn Titus said her stepfather, 67-year-old Dave Brett, would walk every single day 鈥� rain or shine.
鈥淗e was such a positive and spiritual guy who left an impact on everyone that he met,鈥� she said.
Titus explained that Brett was from Courtney, B.C., and commuted from the island to be her mother, Diane Smith, for more than 20 years.
鈥淗is dedication to my mom made it work,鈥� she assured.
Brett retired in May of last year and moved to Aldergrove to be closer to the family; he would prepare many special dinners and lend a helping hand to Titus鈥� many community projects.
Environment Canada had issued a weather alert cautioning residents about a storm system that could potentially bring strong winds to the area on Thursday, Sept. 24.
A resident found Brett unconscious and called paramedics around 7:30 a.m. where he was pronounced dead on the scene.
At the same time, branches, leaves, and trees came crashing down around the family鈥檚 home 鈥� Titus and her mother share a yard just off of Robertson Crescent and 248th Street.
鈥淭rees had fallen over the deck and on top of my mom鈥檚 home,鈥� Titus recalled. 鈥淭here was no way we could have done it ourselves.鈥�
On the following Saturday, friends, neighbours, and even strangers showed up to clean up the damage the storm had left.
鈥滻鈥檇 say there were about 25 to 30 people who came that day to clean up the yard,鈥� Titus said. 鈥淓veryone put in about five hours of work and pizza just all the sudden showed up for everyone from Canco.鈥�
Titus said she and her family was humbled by the actions of people who simply showed up to lend a helping hand.
鈥淚f something happens to someone else in Aldergrove, people step up to help,鈥� she said.
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Cleaning and picking are not foreign pastimes to Titus, who founded the community groups and in attempts to pick up garbage left on neighbourhood streets.
Titus was planning a pick that weekend, but her stepfather鈥檚 unexpected passing has since put all of her projects in limbo.
While COVID-19 has made her picks difficult to organize, Titus said a falling out with her garbage transportation crew has made it even harder to continue the volunteer service.
鈥淲e鈥檙e volunteers on a mission to clean up the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had gotten a grant earlier this year to help it keep going, but now it鈥檚 coming out of my own pocket to transport what I鈥檝e picked to the dump.鈥�
None the less, Titus assured Aldergrove that her picking groups will continue because that鈥檚 what her stepfather would have wanted.
鈥淚 promised that this will not stop me,鈥� Titus assured, recalling the many times Brett would accompany her on Earth Ninja clean-ups.
鈥淗e was my biggest supporter,鈥� Titus recalled. He would say 鈥業 feel good doing it. It鈥檚 small, but I feel we are doing something good鈥�.鈥�
She told the Aldergrove Star that the most frequent road where her picks took place has been Robertson Crescent.
鈥淵ou wouldn鈥檛 believe the things I have found there,鈥� Titus laughed, recalled Brett was the one who came across the jackpot; a one hundred dollar bill.
She is also hoping this accident will get 91原创 Township crews to monitor trees and rural neighbourhoods more closely.
鈥淭he tree that fell was rotten,鈥� Titus said.
But while she, her mother, and her two children are left to grieve, Brett鈥檚 family takes comfort in the fact that he was a man who lived life to his fullest.
鈥淗e road motorbikes and walked on hot coals,鈥� Titus said. 鈥淚 honestly can鈥檛 believe that鈥檚 not the way he went.鈥�
She noted that the strange storm seemed to last for only 15 minutes and seemingly in that specific area.
鈥淢aybe a reason he called for a higher power,鈥� Titus wonders. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know.鈥�
What she and her mother are sure of is that the phone calls, food, labour, and community support from Aldergrove residents is overwhelming and appreciated.
鈥淛ust the amount of food alone that has donated to us鈥� everything has really has made it easier and really helped the grieving process,鈥� Titus said.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@aldergrovestar.com
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