I met Reid when I was 7 years old, fresh moved to Okotoks, biking around the Cimarron Ghettos (Meadows), he was chubby with a bad fitting helmet but he had the sickest mountain bike out of all of the kids. I gave him the helmet test, where I hammer fisted the helmet into his head, and he laughed, and a friendship was born. I didn't see much of him after the age of 10 until one random party where we reconnected, exchanged numbers, and for the last thirteen years we hardly went a couple days without texting and bullshitting and expanding our knowledge with random info or debating middle eastern politics or the merits of playground zone speed limits. He was younger than me, but ten times wiser, and someone who always knew what to say when I was unwell. I got to hang out with him twice before he passed, and they were two of the most fun times I've had in a while. We made plans to hang out, go for lunch and do "normie shit" as he put it, the night before he passed. Losing him is losing a part of myself. I find memes that only he would appreciate and I break down crying because I won't get to hear his laugh in response. Such an intelligent person, wise beyond his years. I miss you and love you so much buddy. I'll never accept youre gone. Please jump out of a garbage can and tell me it's a prank. To his mother and sister, please know Reid was second to none in character, intelligence, and love for those around him. He was a little brother to me, and I wish there was something I could do to make this go away. My condolences, love and support in this trying time. Reid, brother, catch you on the flip side.

I knew Reid for years we went to school together, i always thought he was a really interesting and very smart person, he always had many friends, he was a popular guy, everyone wanted to be friends with him because he was so likeable and interesting, i can remember countless times skipping school to hang out with him and he always had friends over, over time we drifted apart as many friendships tend to, but i could never forget Reid he definitely left a lasting impression on me and the hundreds of other people he knew, i was actually trying to reunite with him about a month ago but couldn't find his facebook page if he had one or any type of social media to contact him on, i pray he is in a better place and will never forget him, rest in peace old friend, my deepest condolences to you Angela and your family.

Reid and I had only met a few months ago but we experienced an immediate magnetism upon our first encounter. As one of the few people in my circumstantially limited social circle, Reid was a bright light in my monotonous routine. While his physical absence is undeniably palpable, this Light still visits in glimmering moments like sun off the water’s surface. I know he has found peace.

He is very dearly missed.

My heart goes out to Angela and family, as well as Reid’s abundant chosen family of friends. May you all treat yourself with the kindness Reid exuded.

With love and gratitude,

Carlan

I've been looking through my inbox to hear Reid's voice again, and I happened upon an e-mail he sent back in 2013 to mark the new year. If I can redirect the following words, I hear Reid speaking to each and every one of us for eternity. Despite his absence, I hear him sending us these words of care, presence, & love now more than ever:

"i miss you dearly. i'm sorry i haven't kept in touch as often as i should, i'm not even particularly busy, but i wanted to remind you i still love you, and would really be glad to see you sometime soon. there's some strange things happening lately that i want to share and hear your thoughts on. i often wonder how you are lately as well, i hope you're doing everything necessary to be happy and fulfilled because it's imperative you be happy and fulfilled okay? okay. cheerz luv <3."

Cousin Angela & Family,

We send you all our deepest condolences at this most difficult time. So sorry to hear of Reid's passing Angela, please know that we are sending you all our love with hugs. May you all be comforted with family & friends and especially with wonderful memories of your beautiful son, brother, uncle. Our hearts go out to you. XO Celia & Rick Hanvold

Sending hugs Angela and family. So sorry to hear of Reid's passing. My heart breaks for you.

Mona Larson

My friendship with Reid is something i will always treasure. We met at Big Rock, but our friendship really blossomed as teens around 2006-2008, before we drifted apart and always talked about catching up over the past few years. Despite having grown apart Reid has always held such a special place in my heart. We spent everyday together during formative times, his weirdness complimenting mine. Making terrible music on paint cans, spending time together drawing, taking dumb photos, laughing. So much laughing. Reid was the goofiest, most genuine and authentic person i have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Angela, thank you for always be so welcoming of myself and all of Reid's friends. My heart aches for you in this unimaginable time.

Reid wrote "much lava" on a ceiling tile in my room at my mom's house. It remains there to this day and I smile everytime I see it.

So, I'm sending much lava to Reid's family and friends. Keep laughing, keep being your weird authentic self.

Frank& Annette Bonafede& family

We were very lucky to have met Reid and have him as an employee over the past 4 years. From day one he was a trusted and valued part of our small family restaurant, he was part of our family. Reid was always willing & ready to help with any task and did it to perfection. He was conscious of the importance of food handling and was scrupulous with cleanliness & sanitization. We enjoyed his interest in learning the Italian language which which he picked up with ease. He was always patient & kind to all staff and had a great sense of humor and often caught him chuckling at our “passionate” Italian family dramas. Reid developed a very special bond with Frank, they were good friends. We are all devastated by his loss and will greatly miss having him with us.

Our hearts ache for his family, we hope the their rich memories bring them solace and peace. Rest with angels Reid, you are loved.

Annette Bonafede

I met Reid in 2007 when I moved to Okotoks and we became fast friends. He's the type of person you want to be around all the time. Smart, funny, and kind. I'll always remember the dancing, the laughs, and the heart-to-heart talks we had. His influence on my life was massive. Reid taught me so much about the world and helped shape who I am today. I'll miss him immensely.

I really enjoyed getting to know Reid when he was visiting or staying at his dad's place as we are neighbors and friends. I was always impressed with his smarts and his updated opinion on current events. We were grateful to enjoy his culinary skills too when he contributed to meals we had shared together at Terrace's place. Chris and I send our most heart felt condolences to all of you at this time.

Connie B & Chris W

Reid was so good at recognizing the lonely person in a room and throwing a rope to them--he spread his friendship freely and openly and approached people with an honesty and open attitude that inspired me to do the same. He never turned down a conversation and to this day is the only person to have ever approached me and offered me genuine friendship and companionship for nothing in return and simply because he felt like it. He could see the humour in almost anything and was so easy to talk to, and sometimes he just radiated with joie de vivre even when we talked about all sorts of depressing things. I genuinely thought he could have done anything if he wanted to, it was like he could just pick up something and be good at it he had so many different talents and had this encyclopedia knowledge of the most unexpected things. There is going to be a Reid shaped hole in this world and our hearts forever, we were all so excited to see what he was going to do and I was so excited to see what we were going to do together.

Fond memories of Reid. Reid is my first cousin. Angela is my aunt. I spent a lot of time with him when he was younger. I took him on a road trip to Dunster, BC from Calgary when he was about 5 years old. There we stayed for a week, caring for my sisters two young children ( 4 and 7 at the time ). We played games, jumped on the trampoline, went for walks ( which ended in a mosquito apocalypse ) I imagine we didn't go on any more walks after that one. I prepared worksheets for the boys each night so that they had the activities to do in the morning after breakfast. Then there was the "kitten" incident. The kitten survived and went to a good, loving home.

There were a couple of times where I was living temporarily with the Sutherland family and got to spend much time with Reid. He was smart as a whip and loved to debate as a young person. My own son now who is 8 years old, reminds me of Reid in those same ways.

My heart breaks for the family. The loss of a child is the ultimate pain of this physical world and I will continue to send love and healing. Biggest hugs and condolences.

I didn't grow up with Reid. We were stationed at opposite ends of Alberta for majority of our lives. I don't recall how often I saw him as a kid -and maybe some of you can fill me in on the timeline here, my memory of these days are fuzzy and faded. But my first memory of Reid was when my family travelled to Calgary to visit my Uncle Terrace. I was quite young, maybe 5 or 6? It was dark by the time we arrived and I vaguely remember us all watching Hercules together. Reid was technically my younger cousin, but he always felt older to me. And I knew straight away by his extensive knowledge of dinosaurs that he was impossibly smart.

The next time I remember seeing Reid, he came to the trailer park with Uncle Terrace. I was older this time, maybe 11 or so. He was so excited to show off his new blue and white Bionicle that he had just received for his birthday. Even if there was a much more impressive collection of sword(s)? in the trunk that we also got to see. I always believed Reid was the coolest of all my cousins and it's like he barely had to try. I hope I told him that. (sorry everyone else... but it's the truth) I have salt and pepper memories from then on. I remember seeing him with Angela once, when he had his ultra long locks. It was a reunion of sorts? I'm unsure. We didn't stick around for long.

I was super honored and excited to have Reid attend my college graduation, again with Uncle Terrace. We hung out the entire day, and he joined me, Josh and all my closest friends for the afterparty. I will never forget that night and how much fun we all had. This was also around the time that I realized that the only one in my family as strange as me, (if not a little bit more so) was Reid.

After that he came to visit me in Kelowna once, where he stayed at my place over the weekend. I could listen to him talk all day. In fact, I wanted to. Still so smart, and unfairly funny to boot!

Reid was living in Vancouver when I first moved here. I remember having him over a handful of times, but one that really stands out for me was a Thanksgiving pot luck we had at mine. He brought some green beans to contribute, and we played this game where you get a deck of cards and prepare a few prompts. The idea was, you draw a card and a prompt, and if the card is black you have to tell a story about your life using the prompt as inspiration, but if the card was red you had to make something up. Then everyone would guess if it was a true story or a tall tale. I still remember how he laughed when I told the totally true story about me losing my mom's wedding ring at school in grade 3 cause I was trying to give it to a boy..(still sorry about that one mom) I wish I remembered more stories from that night. We all laughed so much and I thought to myself, "I've waited my entire life to live in the same city as Reid. And I can't wait to finally see him on a regular basis and get to really know him." He left back for Calgary a bit after that, and he had me waiting for his return. I missed him then and I'm gonna miss him heaps now.

I love you Reid. I'll carry on being the weird cousin for the both of us.

<3

Leigha