CAYDEN MICHAEL RAYNE CARFRAE

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CAYDEN MICHAEL RAYNE CARFRAE

August 10, 1999 - February 12, 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden, tragic passing of Cayden Carfrae on February 12, 2024.

Cayden was born and raised in Winnipeg, attending Nordale Elementary School and Glenlawn Collegiate. He was fiercely proud of his Irish and Cree descent, and embraced learning about his Indigenous heritage and the Seven Teachings and strived every day to follow the path.

Cayden was a promising young hip hop artist. He discovered his passion for music at a young age through his uncle, stepdad and father and released his debut album No Distractions when he was 20. He inspired us with his commitment to community outreach, advocacy for Indigenous voices, and dedication to environmental and social justice. He was a fierce protector of his younger sister and brother and loved every person he met, whether he knew them for 10 seconds or 10 years. He was funny, impish and a natural born leader. He loved nature, animals and basketball, drinking tea and making beats.

But Cayden’s greatest passion was working with and mentoring youth. He worked at Graffiti Art Gallery and N'we Jinan as a youth mentor. He recently started a position at the Canadian Human Rights Museum as an Assistant Event Co-ordinator. His confidence rubbed off on every young person he worked with, and he was very proud that he had the opportunity to touch the lives of so many.

Cayden made his own path in the world, and always said what was in his soul. He has left the world a better place than it was when he found it. Organ donation was important to him, so his last selfless act on earth was to give in death as he did in life. In Cayden’s honour we urge you to seek out opportunities to pay kindness forward.

Left to mourn are his mother Rachael, stepdad David; sister Abby, brothers Finley, Jonathan and Michael, loving partner Jess, grandparents Bill and Joyce Ginter, aunts Angie, Belinda (Kevin), and Audrey (Kurt); uncle/roommate Steve and uncle Steven (Heather); his cousins Kari, Stefanie (Adam), Celine, Julien (Kenzie), Cameron, Spencer, Hudson, Asher, Griffin, Bennett and Alita, Liv, Remi, Hazel and his cat Suggie. Cayden’s passing will also leave a huge hole in the lives of his friends, collaborators and co-workers who meant the world to Cayden.

He was predeceased by his father Michael Ginter, his grandparents Mary and KB Baria, and his uncle Claude Martel.

The Family would like to thank the staff in the ICU at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for their compassionate care of Cayden, his family and his partner Jess during a very difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Cayden’s honour to CommUNITY204

A Celebration of Cayden’s Life will be held on March 9 at Graffiti Art Gallery, 109 Higgins Avenue. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. A collection bin will be available for Care Package items (soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, socks, etc).

E.J. COUTU & CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS

204-253-5086

ejcoutu.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 24, 2024, Feb 24, 2024