Love For Daniel

And can it be 

that in a world, so full and busy,

the loss of one creature 

makes a void SO wide

and deep

that nothing but the 

width, 

and depth

of eternity 

can fill it up

- Charles Dickens

In the midst of our immense loss, or seemingly relentless sorrow and worry, some of the most amazing people have come into our lives.  Offering love, support, prayers, uplifting words of encouragement.  We have laughed, we have cried, and all the while....all those who love us, have kept the faith...kept the love....for Daniel.

It was not long after Daniel's death that a few of his friends approached me with an idea that has become an amazing tribute of love, faith and support.

Credit must be paid to Sarah Kiengersky, Coleson Lecompte and Jenn Howe.   All three of these wonderful souls love Daniel.  I am also privileged to call them my friends.

I can not be sure how this all got started but all three of them asked me separately how I felt about having bracelets made in honor  and support for Daniel.  What they proposed was that we get together and order those plastic bracelets (like the "Livestrong" movement") in Daniel's name.  I found the idea to be just exactly fitting.  Some research was done but with summer holidays and busy schedules, plans weren't solidified immediately....
Then one day, Lainey and I were in Coopers and she said to me "Mummy, do you know how happy I will feel if I am walking in the grocery store, or anywhere in town, and I see someone wearing Daniel's bracelet?"
At that moment I thought...we have to do this straight away.  She was right.  Our little town was so rocked by Daniel's murder I just knew that we could all show our support by just simply wearing a red bracelet.
I went home that afternoon and in talks with my sister in law Jennifer, she immediately offered up a contact she had with a bracelet maker she has dealt with in Vancouver called LANYARDS PLUS.  Joel and Kyler were there (Kyler is Joel's best friend) and they piped up and wanted to be involved.  After much brainstorming we decided to jump in!  The benefit concert on September 10 was soon approaching so we wanted to try to get some made for that special night.  We decided that because red was Daniel's favorite colour they should be red.  In the beginning, I was thinking they should say "Justice For Daniel", because that's what we all want, but a friend of Daniel's in Victoria whose name is also Daniel (Daniel Elliott from the Baja Surf Grill to be exact) suggested that "Justice For Daniel" was what we all want, but "Love For Daniel" was what we all already have.  He was right.  And so was born, Love For Daniel, the already name of this blog, and the name we all now wear on our wrists.

Jennifer made some calls.  With a bit of a miracle, and the kindness of one man's heart, we had a promise that 2000 bracelets were going to be at my doorstep on or before September 10th, the day we so badly wanted them.  Joel and Kyler created a Facebook group and the movement began.

 Joel and Kyler got writing, and this is their wish.......

 

"Welcome to Love For Daniel!! A place where people can learn about our cause and our mission. Share pictures and stories of your bracelets.

Daniel Jordan Levesque was a 20 year old musician and poet who was tragically taken from this earth on August 3 2011, in Victoria British Columbia. My name is Joel Thur, I am 15 and Daniel is my big brother. I have a baby sister who is 12 and a mum who has now lost her second son tragically. My best friend Kyler Lenzi,14, and I have created this page to raise awareness on a few important things.
Daniel is from Revelstoke, a small little town in the interior of British Columbia. He lived his whole life here until his move to Victoria in June 2011. He was a small town boy not really prepared for the big city. Kyler and I want to show the world our love for my brother by promoting bracelets that say "Love for Daniel" on them. We want them world wide. We want people from all walks of life to see the importance of preparing children who leave our small towns for the big city life. I miss my brother. I am proud of who he was. And I want the world to know him. If you would like to purchase a bracelet, the cost is $5.00 CDN and $1.00 S/H. All proceeds go to a trust fund set up for the well being of Daniel's family. Please feel free to share stories and pictures of your bracelets and where you are wearing them proudly. Did you find one? Tell us the story, as there will be bracelets left in all cities in BC for people to find them and learn about my brother's story. I love my big brother. I know anyone who would have ever met him would love him too"

People have been so supportive, and Joel and Kyler have been taking it very seriously.  They keep books, they are learning banking.  They send out mail.   It's really quite amazing.  And you know what? Seeing the bracelets....makes me almost cry.  It moves our hearts in such a huge way, I wish I had better words to describe it. It may seem like such a small gesture for some but is IMMENSE to us. 

Air Force Beach, Comox

When went to the coast recently we saw this girl sitting with her friends at a huge movie theatre.  A total stranger...and she had on a Love for Daniel.  It was so cool to see.  Here's this girl who most likely grew up in Langley....and there it was.
There have been bracelets all over the world.
They are all over Canada. They are proudly worn in Woodstock ON, places all over Manitoba, Calgary, Lac La Biche, Pouce Coupe BC all over Quebec.  Victoria, White Rock, South Surrey, Lillooet, Comox, Leduc, Vernon, Nanoose Bay.  They have been in Makaha HI, Mazatlan, Myan Riviera, Brazil, Las Vegas, Puerto Vallarta, Disneyland, Niagra Falls, Sarnia, Lake Erie, Hollywood, Minnesota  There is one on Jim Morrison's grave in Ile de France, all different parts of Portugal and Spain.  They wear them in Norway, Germany and New Zealand.  On the tops of mountains like Mt. Begbie! Revelstoke Mountain Resort, One Tree Hill! Egypt!! Italy!!

Ile De France

 

Jimi Hendrix Las Vegas

San Fransisco!  Grand Canyon! New York! North Dakota!!!
They have been on wrists at Canucks games, Avenge Sevenfold, St. Vital Mustang's Football games.  The Hoover Dam, Cuba, even with the Grey Cup.   Paul Brandt has held Love For Daniel in his hand.  It's amazing. And its bound to grow.

If you haven't already joined the Love For Daniel page on Facebook, look it up.  There you can see many more pictures than I have on here, and places I have not intentionally missed.
We have been leaving bracelets randomly around in different cities to raise awareness to Daniel's story.  For example, don't be surprised if...let's say...some bracelets turn up in Okotoks AB, or Prince George, Cranbrook, Calgary....any place really.  Anywhere and everywhere...for as far as we are all concerned, the world DESERVES to know about what happened to Daniel...and know the TRUTH... not the lies.  So the right person is held accountable for his death.

Paul Brandt 

Nothing can be more powerful than the power of love.  For those of you who have bracelets, wear them proudly.  Break them out once in a while if you don't wear them regularly  because you never know whose heart it may touch.  Lets all band together again and pray for justice and peace.  This isn't over...and we want the truth to be told.

Bless you all for your support.

ONE LOVE

Norway

One Tree Hill, NZ

Vancouver Canucks Game

Hollywood

 More pictures on Facebook
                                                               

If you are interested in having your own bracelet you can contact Joel and Kyler either directly at "Love For Daniel" on Facebook, or 
email them at 
lovefordaniel@gmail.com .

An Update

Here's a little update....unfortunately I am a little too cynical and numb to be very inspiring tonight...
I almost didn't write but I feel I should considering the date tomorrow.
It's November 22, the date of the person who took my son's life's third court appearance.  The day that he is to make an official plea...guilty or not guilty. 
I really don't know what the hold up has really been because I think we all know that this person has no intention of taking any responsibility for doing what he clearly did.  The only two people in that apartment that fateful day.  One is dead...the other is not.  How is there any real question as to guilt?  This is the part of our legal system that I will indeed, never understand...and never really did before. 
Oh those glorious days when I never imagined this would be a life I would know so intimately.  I am the mother of a murdered child.  The mother who has buried two sons. 
My very good friend Jennifer and I are the kind of people who watch Dateline, or W5 the Passionate Eye.  We have always been two people most interested in reading fascinating, albeit heart wrenching tales of lives lost.  Discussing over and over what we think may have happened, and why.  When this first had happened to Daniel, Jen said to me "This isn't supposed to happen to one of us...we are the ones who watch these shows!!"  Now it is real...Law and Order, CSI....wtf.

I had the privilege of talking to Sgt Craig Harper.  He is a very kind man who has talked to more than his fair share of grieving parents I am sure.  It's people like him and the others on his team, who do their best to make this world a better place.  It can not please him in anyway to have to call people like me and talk about the "case" , but, without people like me, people like HIM, wouldn't have a job.  Actually, let me rephrase that....without that person who murdered my son, people like Sgt. Harper, wouldn't have a job.  There, that makes more sense. 

I know that Daniel's murder is a terribly complicated case.  But never once, even in my most darkest moments, have I ever doubted the abilities of the men and women who have been doing their best to have the person responsible for all of our pain, punished.

Here is what news I can share......
that's right...nothing much.  There isn't a lot they can tell me.  Everything is confidential for the most part, even kept secret from me.  I wish it weren't that way, but I don't make the rules, and neither do the police.  One of the investigators described it to me like this....imagine the building of the case like a ladder.  Every time you let out any little detail its like removing a wrung.  It weakens.  And I can admit, that even though I am a very good secret keeper, it would be most difficult to not speak of things I am not supposed to.

And, you see, this person who deserves not a single ounce of fairness, has a RIGHT to a fair trial.  Pfft...as if.  Daniel didn't get a fair anything in all of this.

*  There has been no application for bail at this point, and the Victoria Police will fight any application they get for it.  They even have special officers whose job is to have a package ready for why they oppose bail. 
*  There will be a preliminary trial sometime in the spring most likely.  This is done in front of a judge at a provincial level.  It's something like a mini trial where a judge will decide if there is enough evidence at that time to continue on.  After that is moved forward, the Crown Council polishes their case, to present in Supreme Court.
*  Second Degree Murder is a Federal Offence which MUST be tried in the Supreme Court in front of a jury.  The only time a jury is not involved is if both sides agree to a trial by judge only, but this is not very common.
*  It will indeed be a very long time for this to actually take place.  2 years from the offence is not uncommon, and to expect it much earlier than that, is unwise.
On that note....for those of you who think it's taking too long and you want to know "what's the hold up", know this....it is going as quickly as it can possibly go.  Sgt. Harper said to me that we need to be almost thankful that there isn't a trial anytime soon.  Because if there was, he would probably get off.  Why? Because they don't have all their evidence analysed, or in order.  That is where the real hold up is.  When a piece of evidence needs to be processed, it has to be sent to Ottawa.  Canada's CSI lab.  Realize this, life isn't like a tv show.  I imagine that shows like CSI must be so frustrating to watch.  "QUICK!!  I need this DNA processed STAT!!"  ha  and an hour later its done...not so is the Canadian system.  Some evidence takes 6 months to come back.  AND...they cant send new things to be processed until the first batch of things comes back...sit...and wait....and my son is still gone.

I am truly thankful for people like Sgt. Craig Harper, and Det. Mike Darling and their colleagues because I know they aren't taking this lightly....and neither am I.



For those of you who sent letters about Daniel, I thank you.  Thank you for taking time out of your day to do that for him.  You all know that he would do the same for you.  For those who are on the fence about it what are you waiting for?  Please put a pen to paper, even if it is only 4 lines long, it would mean the world to him and I believe that ever word on ever paper opened in that Victoria office is read and cared for.  They will all go into a file kept for the Crown Council to read and know how much this boy was loved.  He deserves a million letters....because I promise you, every letter about Daniel just compounds the lack of love and support for this person who took our dear Daniel away from us.  He has no one writing letters about him...this I can guarantee.   Here is the address again (take note of the new name you can write to if you haven't already started)

ATTN: SGT. Margo Downey
2881 Nanaimo Street,
Victoria, B.C.,
V8T 4Z8

For those of you who pray, please give some extra attention to tomorrow.
My dear friend Laurel Russell will be in the courtroom at 1500 tomorrow proudly holding a picture of my little boy because I can not.
 

He is not just a name.
He is not just a victim.
He is not just Victoria's second homicide of 2011.
He IS
Daniel Jordan Levesque.
The Poet.
The Musician.
The most wonderful.
My dear boy.

I miss him so much :(


Stace xo