Obituary of Lucas Paul Chabot
Our family is devastated to have to say "See You Later" to our beloved baby of the family, Lucas Paul Chabot. Lucas, at the age of 21 years old, suffered heart failure during a climbing competition and passed away at the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary on November 3, 2019 (on brother Tanner's Birthday).
Lucas was born in 1998 to Richard and Tracy Chabot in St. Albert, AB. Lucas resided in St. Albert until the age of 5 when the family moved to Red Deer. Lucas was one of the three lights of his parents' lives. He was the baby but towered over everyone at a height of 6'3".
From a very young age, Lucas displayed exceptional mind power. When he was a toddler, he could finish the sentences of story time books after only hearing them once. He could read chapter books in kindergarten and recognized over 100 sight words at the age of 6, without ever seeing them before. His intellect was matched only by his sense of humour. He was always making us laugh with his wit and expressive face.
Lucas played lacrosse with the Red Deer Chiefs until he was 16, but stopped the year after his Father died of cancer. His Dad helped coach Lucas' teams and he just couldn't continue lacrosse without his Dad. Lucas followed up lacrosse with skateboarding, BMX biking and dirt jumping. In addition, he also loved snowboarding and dirt biking. In elementary school, Lucas learned to play the trumpet and in middle school took popular music singing lessons. His family was extremely proud when he performed "Drops of Jupiter" and "Time of Your Life" in front of two live audiences at the year-end concert.
After graduating in 2016, Lucas entered the workforce until he decided which post-secondary education he would like to pursue. He went to work at Mud Sweat and Gears, a new bike shop at that time, which was perfect for an avid cyclist. He was there for a year. Around that time, Lucas had the very good fortune to try indoor rock climbing at the Collicutt Centre. There was no turning back. Lucas had found his passion and became one of Red Deer's most passionate and skilled rock climbers. Lucas met Kurtis Paul, who is a young entrepreneur and had a vision to create his own climbing gym in Red Deer. This vision would become Trailhead Climbing + Fitness in Red Deer. Lucas then went to work for Kurtis at the gym and quickly became a well respected member of their community. He worked there, in different capacities, up until his passing. Our family is so grateful that Lucas found his second family at Trailhead. You could not find a more supportive, wholesome and fun-loving group of people. Lucas was registered for upgrading classes this coming winter term at Red Deer College, as his goal was to apply to University to study Software/Robotics Engineering.
In recent years, Lucas displayed many other talents. He was a fly fisherman, an outdoor climber and a true outdoorsman. Lucas also taught himself many different automotive procedures, which allowed him to fix his own vehicles. He even gutted a Mitsubishi Delica. Lucas paneled the interior, installed new vinyl flooring and hung up curtains that he himself sewed, etc. When the van was ready, he took a very memorable trip to BC with his good friend, Nick. Lucas always had projects on the go and he truly loved to keep busy. He built a spectacular climbing wall in the shop at the acreage, his niece's "big girl" bed and with the use of an industrial sewing machine he made his very own chalk bags for climbing.
Lucas enjoyed many family snowboarding trips and warm vacations to places including Panama, Disneyland, Phoenix, Mexico, Joshua Tree, Red Rock and Utah (with friend Colin and our families). He also went on a trip with his friend Carter and his family to the Maritimes. Recently, Lucas met his beautiful and kind girlfriend, Kaja, who filled the last months of his life with joy, fun and a lot of laughter.
Lucas leaves to mourn him: mother Tracy (Allan); brothers Tanner (Tracy), Christian (Keeley); nieces Presley and Sadie; maternal grandmother Rose Marie Nyholt (Gary); girlfriend Kaja; maternal uncle and aunts: Scott Fryer (Kate), Shelly Ostberg (Lee), Lana Prescott (Rus), as well as David Gossard (Liz), paternal uncles and aunts Fern Chabot (Florence), Dan Chabot (Marg), Lionel Chabot (Kathy), Gloria Thompson (Lyle) and Ron Chabot (Pat). Also left to cherish Lucas' memory are numerous great aunts, uncles, cousins and seconds cousins, as well as a multitude of friends. Lucas was predeceased by his beloved father Richard (Reg) Chabot; paternal grandparents Paul and Therese Chabot, maternal grandfather Elroy Fryer and maternal aunt Toby Gossard. Our family will be forever grateful to the on-scene doctors, first responders, Rockyview and Foothills hospital staff, police, fire department and victim services for their amazing care of Lucas and the compassion shown to our entire family.
Friends and family are invited to an informal Celebration of Life at Trailhead Climbing + Fitness, 108, 33 - Mckenzie Cres, Red Deer County on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Please dress casually, as there will be climbing mats for seating with possible chalk residue. A limited number of chairs will be available for those who require them. Shoes may not be worn inside the facility, so feel free to bring slippers or socks to wear. Following the Celebration there will be appetizers served at The Hideout, 411 - Lantern St, Red Deer County. This is a licensed facility, but minors are permitted.
The Family's dearest wish is that in lieu of flowers, donations be made for a new climbing wall that will be constructed in the future at Trailhead Climbing + Fitness. This was Lucas' dream for the benefit of the Climbing Community and City/County of Red Deer. Envelopes will be available at the Celebration of Life, as well as a GoFund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/lucas-wall).
Let's build his wall!
Condolences to Lucas’ family may be forwarded by email to meaningful@telus.net. Arrangements in care of Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service, serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta, 587-876-4944.