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Trevor Lambert Heath Ashwell

November 9, 2017

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On Thursday, November 9, Trevor died in a tragic car accident. He was 25 years old. We are heartbroken.

Trevor is the beloved son of Monica and Dave, cherished little brother to fiercely-loving Robyn (Chael) and Jesse (Ellen), treasured grandson to Bill and Fran Ashwell and Shirley Hylkema (Lambert deceased), adored nephew, cousin, and friend.

Trevor was born in Comox, and graduated from Highland Secondary. He loved movement. Whether on his mountain bike, unicycle, longboard, surfboard, or snowboard, or while playing soccer, volleyball, League of Legends, or UVic Ultimate Frisbee, he moved with graceful fluidity and coordination. He loved to play, and he shared his playful spirit with others, challenging them to explore and enjoy their own abilities.

After high school, he attended NIC and UVic, working summers as a tree planter. Four and a half years ago he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a C1-C2 quadriplegic. Trevor faced the colossal challenge of mourning and adjusting to his new reality with bravery, grace, and humour. He learned to share his vulnerability, and he showed us how to share ours.

He quickly mastered driving his sip'n'puff wheelchair with precision and finesse. He returned to UVic and applied his intelligence and spatial awareness to his Geography and GIS mapping courses. Always he maintained his playfulness and his humour. With the love and support of his family, his community, his amazing attendants, and his own daily courage, he had moved to a place where the present held hope and the future held promise.

Trevor became wise beyond his years. He was curious and informed, adding depth, insight and gentleness to conversations. He cared about justice and the environment, and he could explain why issues mattered. He rejected ideology, seeking nuance and understanding instead. Trevor was extraordinarily kind and patient.

He was also brilliantly funny. He loved being around children, his expressive face becoming his way of connecting with them. He embodied gratefulness and generosity, and he was a trustworthy and empathetic confidant.

Trevor's community was spectacularly generous after his spinal cord injury; the money remaining in Trevor's Trust Fund will be distributed to charitable organizations he respected that worked on causes close to his heart, as well as those that helped him live with his injury.

In memory of Trevor, find a way to spread kindness.

A memorial service for Trevor will be held on Saturday, November 25, at 12:30 pm at Ecole Au-coeur-de-l'ile, 566 Linshart Road, Comox. Casual dress is fine.



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