Earlier this week on Sunday morning, a young boy tragically lost his life after being struck by a vehicle.

Dendrae Thunder Lonechild was only 16 years old when he lost his life at the intersection of 13th Avenue and Garnet Street.

“On the night this happened he was taking a young person home just to make sure that they were safe and that they got home safely. that just goes to speak to the level of love and kindness that was in his heart,” says Dendrae’s Grandfather Lorne Kequahtooway.

He says it’s been an emotional rollercoaster for the family, “Sometimes we’re laughing in remembering him, the smile, and the cheekiness that he was and then there’s moments where there’s tears and crying and just missing him and missing him physically but knowing that his spirit is still begin carried in our hearts.”

A candlelight vigil was held in his memory on Thursday night that saw upwards of 100 people attend.

Family, friends, and community members talked, laughed, prayed, sang, and cried in his memory.

“He was a very nice person. He always made sure that I went to class. He always made sure I was okay,” says Lahanna Asapace, a high school friend of Dendrae’s.

“He helped her be comfortable in the school and welcomed her and always had a big smile,” says Savannah Asapace, Lahanna’s Mother.

His family, friends, and the community honoured Dendrae’s life through a pipe ceremony, drumming, prayers, as well as sharing memories, and wisdom.