Jake Langille died on an air mattress at the age of 27 in his mother害羞草研究所檚 Kelowna apartment on Jan. 22, 2017.
Groggy and lethargic from a night害羞草研究所檚 rest of sleeping pills, Jake害羞草研究所檚 mother ambled to her computer chair害羞草研究所攁s she always does害羞草研究所攏ot wanting to wake her son. After a few years of precarious living, the mother wanted Jake to feel rested and at home in her apartment.
It took much longer than anybody would want to willingly sit in a room, scanning Facebook, waiting for their dead son to awaken.
害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 hear breathing, no snoring; he couldn害羞草研究所檛 move,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hen I looked and he was blue. And that was that. That was the last time I ever saw him.害羞草研究所�
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Jake moved to Kelowna after struggling to find his way in northern Ontario, where the mother and son are native to. His mother moved to Kelowna in 2014 and he visited for four months in 2015 to see if the area could help him move past his struggles.
His mom sent him back to Ontario for rehab and counselling. He wanted to get his life back on track. When he was ready, he came back to Kelowna to get a job, find stable housing and move forward. His mother even made him turn himself into police for a prior drug offence.
害羞草研究所淗e was doing all the right things,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淗e was really a nice kid, he just had his struggles.害羞草研究所�
She doesn害羞草研究所檛 know how he got the money to buy drugs nor does she know where he consumed them and she doesn害羞草研究所檛 know where he got them from, but Jake害羞草研究所檚 blood stream was ridden with various types of drugs that caused an overdose, according to what officials told her.
Jake, according to his mother, was an amazing kid. He was a musician, smart, funny, caring and gentle. She emphasized that the only downfall was that he had his struggles, as many do.
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Gretchen Delguidice was a supporter in Wawa, Ont., and helped guide Jake in the months before he moved to Kelowna to rejoin his mother. She was so inspired by his commitment to healing and helping his friends, that when he passed, she wanted to honour him.
害羞草研究所淛ake was just the most lovable person,害羞草研究所� said Delguidice. 害羞草研究所淚 lost that kid and it was a tough one for me.害羞草研究所�
In 2019, presented by Jacquie Langille (Jake害羞草研究所檚 grandmother) and Delguidice, the Make a Difference Award was priviledged to two Grade 8 students害羞草研究所攐ne boy and one girl害羞草研究所攚ho exemplify kindness and empathy to their peers and their community.
害羞草研究所淭hey make a difference by being just a little different (in a good way),害羞草研究所� the document reads.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 pretty cool, I害羞草研究所檓 honoured and he would害羞草研究所檝e loved it, too,害羞草研究所� the mother said. 害羞草研究所淓specially because it害羞草研究所檚 for the underdogs.害羞草研究所�
The award will be made annual and Delguidice is attempting to create two more awards for Grade 12 graduating students.
The Facebook post by Jake害羞草研究所檚 mother garnered replies that read, 害羞草研究所淲ow害羞草研究所� I love this award!害羞草研究所�, 害羞草研究所淏eautiful害羞草研究所攂rings tears to my eyes害羞草研究所�, 害羞草研究所淚 so love this害羞草研究所� what an amazing legacy害羞草研究所� and so needed. Beautiful害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 at a loss for words, but this truly touched my spirit.害羞草研究所�
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Through Jake害羞草研究所檚 story, his mother wishes for people to understand the opioid crisis, drug addiction and homelessness, although they often correlate, they don害羞草研究所檛 always bind a person to one stereotype. Jake did not die on the streets. He died on his mother害羞草研究所檚 air mattress one dreary, often re-lived morning.
害羞草研究所淭hey are trying to do the best they can,害羞草研究所� his mother empathized with others who struggle in secret.
害羞草研究所淭hey are empaths, the free spirits, the grey in a world of black and white,害羞草研究所� the document concluded. 害羞草研究所淭hese students challenge us to look at life and people differently.害羞草研究所�
David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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