Riverside family mourns the loss of 16 year old killed in motorcycle crash on E.C. Row
It’s been a long weekend of looking back at fond memories of Dakota Rivard.
“I will miss our late night chats the most. Dakota and I spoke about everything and he was unapologetically honest,” said Jamie Poisson, mother of 16-year-old Dakota, who died Friday after his motorcycle was involved in a crash on the E.C. Row Expressway near the Central Avenue Exit.
“We're doing as best as can be expected. It really comes and goes day by day,” said Poisson. “There's just nobody like him. I just don't even know how to articulate just how he could light up a room.”
Dakota was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Another motorcyclist remains in hospital and a police investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.
“We've been working hard as a family to kind of find a way to move forward but to not let his memory, you know, just how to, how do we keep him alive as we move forward,” said Poisson. “So we're still kind of struggling with finding that balance.”
Poisson remembers her son Dakota as a smart, intuitive kid who was always questioning everything.
She calls him a gear-head in training who had been riding motor-bikes since the age of 10.
The day after his 16th birthday, Dakota got his beginner’s motorcycle licence and was even in the process of teaching other motorcyclists to ride with his grandma.
In the days since the crash, Poisson has constantly been reminded by friends and teachers at Riverside Secondary School about the kind of guy her son was.
“I respect him a lot, he was there when me and my brother needed him,” said one student. “I know he was really passionate about motorbikes and stuff.”
“It's been it's been overwhelming just how many people he's touched even, you know, within the schools and just within the community,” said Poisson. “When you got to know him, you couldn't forget him. He would just leave this…this impact.”
Most of all, his large, blended family remembers Dakota as the kind of person who would give the shirt off his back to help someone in need.
“We want to remember how amazing he was and that we miss him dearly,” Poisson said. “He loved to ride and he lived life to the fullest and he lived life on his terms.”
Visitation is scheduled for this weekend and a celebration of life ceremony is planned for Nov. 6.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates A 'ticking time bomb': Inside Syria's toughest prison holding accused high-ranking ISIS members
In the last of a three-part investigation, W5's Avery Haines was given rare access to a Syrian prison, where thousands of accused high-ranking ISIS members are being held.
'Mayday!': New details emerge after Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Mirabel airport
New details suggest that there were communication issues between the pilots of a charter flight and the control tower at Montreal's Mirabel airport when a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing on Wednesday.
BREAKING Supreme Court affirms constitutionality of B.C. law on opioid health costs recovery
Canada's top court has affirmed the constitutionality of a law that would allow British Columbia to pursue a class-action lawsuit against opioid providers on behalf of other provinces, the territories and the federal government.
Cucumbers sold in Ontario, other provinces recalled over possible salmonella contamination
A U.S. company is recalling cucumbers sold in Ontario and other Canadian provinces due to possible salmonella contamination.
Irregular sleep patterns may raise risk of heart attack and stroke, study suggests
Sleeping and waking up at different times is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even for people who get the recommended amount of sleep, according to new research.
Real GDP per capita declines for 6th consecutive quarter, household savings rise
Statistics Canada says the economy grew at an annualized pace of one per cent during the third quarter, in line with economists' expectations.
Nick Cannon says he's seeking help for narcissistic personality disorder
Nick Cannon has spoken out about his recent diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, saying 'I need help.'
California man who went missing for 25 years found after sister sees his picture in the news
It’s a Thanksgiving miracle for one California family after a man who went missing in 1999 was found 25 years later when his sister saw a photo of him in an online article, authorities said.
As Australia bans social media for children, Quebec is paying close attention
As Australia moves to ban social media for children under 16, Quebec is debating whether to follow suit.