It may have been young Alexander Beaulieu who best captured his older brother Nicholas’ unstoppable spirit.
“[Nick] is not here really as I speak. But he is kind of like an invisible person. He’s probably sitting in that seat, right there,” he said, pointing out into the filled auditorium at a memorial service held last night in Grant Hall.
A crowd of about 100 people paid tribute to Nicholas Beaulieu, ArtSci ’07, uniting to share tears, laughter and memories of a son, brother and friend.
Beaulieu, a second-year life sciences student, died last April when he fell three stories while climbing the northeast corner of Dupuis Hall.
The service included speeches from friends and family, as well as a film and slideshow tribute.
The memorial was officiated by University Chaplain Brian Yealland, who remarked on the tragic nature of Beaulieu’s death.
“Nick had skills, he had incredible skills,” Yealland remarked. “But young people take risks.”
Greg Stewart, Beaulieu’s housemate and first-year roommate, told the crowd Beaulieu’s love of climbing was obviously only one part of his dynamic personality.
“There were so many wonderful facets to his personality, and so many ways to describe him that no single story, or bit of prose, could ever capture Nick,” he said. “I could go on forever telling stories that show he was caring, intelligent, unique and hilarious.”
The stories about Beaulieu told by his friends and parents illuminated the life of the student, who they remembered as a bright young man.
Close friend and housemate Michael Taylor recalled his first few encounters with Beaulieu. He said he was impressed with Beaulieu’s caricatures and talent for the guitar.
“I thought: wow, this guy is a really great artist,” Taylor said. “Eventually I realized he was just good at everything.”
Taylor said he especially remembers his friend’s sense of humour.
“Yes, that was Nick throwing water balloons off the roof of [Victoria] Hall,” Taylor said. “And yes, that was Nick streaking through the Hub with a shirt over his head.” A movie made by Beaulieu that was shown at the service featured ninjas in full costume engaging in a one-on-one battle set to an energetic soundtrack. The film not only illustrated Beaulieu’s artistic talents, but showcased his unique spirit.
Toby Stier, ArtSci ’06 and friend to Beaulieu, drew laughter from the audience when he described Beaulieu’s well-known quirks.
“His tastes in clothing, music and food were absolutely wacky,” Stier said. “Everyone knew about his love for Value Village and onion sandwiches.” Laughter again rang out at the service during a slideshow prepared by Beaulieu’s housemate Meghan Malloy, PhysEd ’07.
Music by Ben Harper and Dan Bern played as images of Beaulieu rock climbing, bar-hopping and posing in various unusual fashions elicited smiles among the crowd.
Taylor spoke of the profound impact Beaulieu had on so many lives, in ways both big and small.
“Nick taught me how to cook an egg over-easy, and he taught me some great workout routines,” Taylor said. “He also taught me what it was to love your family.
“I would hear him laughing and joking on the phone. He would come out later and tell me that he had just been talking to his mom. Nick was so close and loving with his family.” Many of Beaulieu’s friends and family flew to Kingston from Alberta for the memorial, including his brother and parents Stephen and Donita, who warmly remembered their brother and son.
Alexander drew a round of applause from the audience after his animated tribute to his older brother.
“The things I remember about Nick are that he was smart, he had lots of courage, and he was a very good brother,” Alexander said from the podium, shrugging off repeated requests to step down from his father with a shake of the head, and saying, “How rude.” Friends said Beaulieu’s love for climbing came before anything else.
Stier, who met Beaulieu in the Queen’s Climbing Club, spoke of the unique magic that accompanied the sport.
“Climbing’s not like any other sport,” he said. “Some say it’s about the beauty and sense of freedom when you leave the monotonous ground behind. Others talk about how good your body feels after you finish a tough climb.” Stier added that Beaulieu’s passion for climbing was simple.
“For Nick, climbing was joy,” he said. “Let’s face it—if Nick didn’t climb, he wouldn’t have been our Nick.”
Beaulieu’s mother Donita recalled that her son had been climbing since a young age and that his adventurous side got an early start in many respects.
“Nicholas first cross-country skied in a backpack at age six months. He first hiked to Lake O’Hara in a backpack at age fourteen months,” Donita said. “He was always ready for an adventure.
“As parents, we knew that Nick was special. It is so hard to describe the love we all share. We loved him so much, and we know he loves us back.
“I am so proud to be his mom.” Yealland seemed to capture Beaulieu’s passion for life when he told the audience to move bravely onwards in the face of such tragedy.
“How do we go forward?” he asked. “Despair is not the answer.”
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