Support for The McConnell Family

May is always a time for dance for the McConnell’s. As a family completely involved in performing, dancing, and competing you can always find them on a stage somewhere. On May 14th, the studio set out on a journey to Vancouver Island for the final event of the season, leaving Kevan behind at home to keep an eye on the animals and manage the house, like he had done so many times before.

On Monday the 16th, Jade was unable to reach Kevan. She assumed he was out for the night and maybe forgot his phone at home. On Tuesday she still couldn’t reach him, and expressed her concern to a few people, which prompted a group effort to try and locate him. His vehicle was at home, and the dogs were there and safe, but he wasn’t answering the door. A neighbours camera showed that his vehicle hadn’t left the home in a couple of days, and all attempts to make contact with him were unsuccessful.

Tuesday night was spent singing Disney songs, and keeping the kids busy and unaware of what was going on behind the scenes, but Jade could sense that something was off. Kevan struggled with mental health and addiction his whole life, and this has been a reality for Jade several times before, but this time felt different. On Wednesday, May 18th while backstage at the dance competition Jade received a text that fire, police and ambulance were outside her home. She had sent her sister and step-dad in to check on him that morning, as they had access to the only key available to get inside. Sadly, Kevan was found inside on the stairs, and had passed away from an accidental overdose.

Kevan struggled his whole life with his mental health, and bipolar disorder. He turned to drugs as a way to escape the reality of what he couldn’t manage on his own. He fought so hard to overcome his addiction but unable to cope with the trauma from his childhood, drugs were the only way he could escape from that. Kevan worked so hard on fixing himself so that he could be the best father and partner to his family. He had been to treatment and recovery centres multiple times, always coming out stronger. He’s spent years working within the treatment centres helping others overcome their addictions and mental health issues, and has made a significant impact to many people out there suffering the same way he was. While the last two years had many ups and down, Kevan put his absolute best into working on his recovery.

To know Kevan is to love him. He was a filled with so much faith and loved God. He would stop and give homeless people the shirt off his back, and would spend time with the addicted and homeless trying to show them their value and purpose. There is nobody out there that tried as hard as Kevan did, and he wanted to do better and be a better person. He wanted his kids to see the best version of himself he could be, and even on his darkest days he would drive them to the football field, to the circus schools, to dance and make sure they had everything they needed so they could have the life he wanted for them.

Kevan’s story is one that has shaken so many people. There is a lot to be said about mental health, and addiction and how they go hand in hand. It speaks truth to how the local drug supply has changed, when something so typical for him, was ultimately what took his life. This was an accidental overdose, and he had no intentions of leaving us that day. This is not anything he wanted for Jade or for his kids, and it’s truly eye opening what a small split decision can do to a family. Even to the most experienced users, todays drugs are unsafe and a resolution is needed badly.

Jade and her five children are now left to pickup the pieces of this tragedy and have a long journey ahead of them. Kevan was the sole provider and worked hard everyday to make sure they had everything they needed. Jade will be taking a leave from her part time job, to be around for her children for as long as they need and will need funds to help cover everyday expenses and day to day living costs. They live very minimally, and ask for nothing. All of them will need love, support and encouragement to get through what will be one of the hardest times of their lives. Kevan has made connections with so many people in the community, and it was often mentioned that you couldn’t go anywhere in Abbotsford without stopping to talk to somebody on the streets or in the community. We know he would want his story shared, and we know he would want all the love and support for his family at this time. His story is worth sharing, and we are hopeful it will make a difference for others hearing his journey.

Kevan was a man of God, he loved his family truly, madly, deeply, and he spent his whole life becoming the best version of himself for others. Nobody can say he didn’t try his best on this earth, and now he is finally at peace and will keep a guiding hand on his loved ones forever. Please rally with us, as we support this family and the legacy of one of this worlds greatest Dad and Husband, Kevan McConnell.