The passage of time over the past weekend has been marked by reminiscences and retrospect, a heartache-invoking recollection of cherished moments shared with Dakota Rivard, a youthful life extinguished too soon at the tender age of 16. At the heart of those ripples of sorrow is Jamie Poisson, Dakota’s mother, who lays bare her grief, “Our late-night conversations are what I will miss terribly. Dakota was forthright in his thoughts, unafraid to be genuine. It’s a quality that made him incomparable. His absence has left an irreplaceable void.”
Sorrows ebbs and flows. They ride on unpredictable currents of emotional turbulence. “We are grappling with the grief as much as we can, armed with little else but resilience and time,” Poisson expresses, her pain palpable. “There’s also the staggering realization that the world will never see someone quite like Dakota again. He had an electrifying presence that would set a room ablaze.”
After the unfortunate collision on the E.C. Row Expressway near Central Avenue, Dakota succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The incident also had another casualty, a fellow motorcyclist who remains under medical care, while the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
In the face of such irrevocable loss, the family clings to the shared aspiration of not dimming Dakota’s memory. “As a family, we are making concerted efforts to move ahead while preserving his memory, his essence,” Poisson shares, her voice filled with determination despite the struggle to balance grief and adaptation.
Dakota’s legacy isn’t confined to his family. His curious spirit, an inquisitive intellect marked him out wherever he went. A mechanical whiz and motorbike enthusiast since the age of ten, Dakota displayed a remarkable zest for life, reminding everyone of his presence in their lives. His penchant for motorbikes defined him, transforming from a hobby to a passion that saw him tutoring fellow bikers, including his grandmother.
As the community reels from the loss, the tragedy has seen an outpouring of love and respect for Dakota from his friends and teachers at Riverside Secondary School. “We want to remember Dakota for his extraordinariness. His kindness was legendary, often giving away his last possession to help someone in distress,” said Poisson, a tone of reverence in her voice. Stories of Dakota’s generosity, his signature biker’s passion, serve as poignant reminders of his vibrant life, cut short yet lived to the fullest on his own terms.
A visitation has been planned for the upcoming weekend, and as a fitting tribute to his life and spirit, a celebration of his life is being organized on November 6.
