About 100 people gathered in Warman Tuesday night to celebrate the life of Austyn Schenstead.
The 19-year-old man was killed in a construction accident in Saskatoon on November 30, 2016 after a large piece of concrete fell off a truck and onto him in a Saskatoon alley.
Schenstead’s family and friends released hundreds of balloons in his honour at the Brian King Centre to mark the six-month anniversary of his death. Many people wrote down messages of love on the balloons before releasing them into the air.
Schenstead’s best friend, Craig Kosymynka, told CTV Schenstead was known for his big smile and always putting the needs of others before himself.
“You could never have a bad time with him, he’d always make you laugh if you want to laugh and he’d always be your shoulder to cry on if you wanted to cry,” Kosmynka said. “He’s one of the strongest persons I know.”
His grandfather Eric Schenstead said people in Warman will never forget the kind of person he was.
“The spirit of this community is reflected in this attitude that you don’t leave him behind, you bring him along with you and it’s in that spirit that we’re seeking to create a legacy,” he said.
Schenstead was known for his involvement in Warman’s minor hockey program. Community members have raised thousands of dollars toward scholarships and a local hockey tournament named in his honour.
