Streets lit up by pumpkin memorial

By Danielle Gagnier

 

While he was growing up, Daniel Ethier’s favourite holiday was Halloween and on the Halloween before he died, he carved 15 pumpkins on his own.

Since his death from osteosarcoma in 2013 when he was 14, his parents Roch and Rachelle Ethier have held a special pumpkin celebration in his honour.

“He loved carving pumpkins,” said Roch. “He’d go on the internet for hours on end looking for the perfect pictures, but then he would have the patience to actually carve the pumpkins.”

Although Daniel loved carving pumpkins, he also loved the whole concept of Halloween. His parents said he loved the idea of dressing up with his friends to go out to collect candy. Once he was older, he began to enjoy decorating the house to scare the trick-or-treaters. The Ethiers continue to decorate for Halloween, inviting their friends and family to help decorate their yard.

While Daniel was sick, Roch kept a blog online in order to keep people updated on Daniel’s life. The fall after Daniel passed, Roch asked everyone on his blog, as well as family and friends, to bring a pumpkin for Daniel and the tradition was started.

“It keeps Daniel’s memory alive,” said Rachelle. “Even through everything that’s  happened, it brought the family much closer together.”

The first time the Ethiers hosted Pumpkins for Daniel was in October 2013. It was only a small gathering with family and friends, but they were shocked when they received 139 pumpkins. It took approximately one and a half hours to light all the candles. Last year, they received over 275 pumpkins and hope to beat that number this year.

“I think he would love it,” said Roch. “He was just like me. I prefer Halloween over Christmas and so did he. I’m sure he’d be happy with 275 pumpkins lit up in his front yard.”

In 2014, Roch invited the fathers from his support group to bring pumpkins carved in memory of their children so that they could celebrate their children together.

“Even though they may not be the best looking pumpkins, what they meant to me was pretty special,” said Roch. “We’re doing it again this year too.”

Last year was also the first year Roch purchased pumpkin seeds from Windsor, N.S. so that he could grow giant pumpkins to put in his yard as the main attraction during the event. He succeeded in growing two pumpkins weighing over 400 pounds and one weighing 250 pounds. Unfortunately, growing conditions this summer were not ideal so they did not grow any pumpkins as large as last year.

At the Pumpkins for Daniel event, his parents ask everyone to bring a pumpkin and a large candle to their home to light on Halloween night. The “Pumpkins for Daniel” event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. but families are welcome to bring pumpkins to the Ethiers home at 1833 Lesperance Rd. anytime between Oct. 24 and Halloween.