Fabienne de Cartier
2003-2025

“This will hurt, more than a lot.” 

Together we grieve the unfathomable loss of Fabienne de Cartier, a beloved wife, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, granddaughter and friend. A confidante, a leader, a soulmate, a poet, a fairminded but fearsome competitor, a rock n roll fairy with a dazzling smile and a good reason for everything, to all who know her. An exceptional human from every angle, Fabienne lived vividly and vibrantly, steering true with an acute sense of responsibility, diligence and discernment that made her every move one of integrity and grace. Fabienne passed away in the early hours of August 12, 2025, with her new husband Lucas and immediate family by her side. It would be accurate to say that she was by their sides too. 

There isn’t a superlative that doesn’t apply to Fabienne, a genuine beam of goodness who not only shone in every direction, but who also brought out the very best in everyone around her. Her enthusiasm for a job well done, a joke well told or a card well made, endearing. Her earnest appreciation of effort, in any form it took, energizing. Equally serious and joyful, playful and thoughtful, Fabienne’s gift for assessing, understanding and accepting the world around her made her an intuitive and empathetic force of positivity, a light so bright for nowhere near long enough. 

Fabienne’s celestial smile and sparkle emanated warmth and uncanny wisdom from the get-go. Teeny tiny, sweet and kind to the core, yes, but make no mistake: this girl arrived fully-formed in this world with an underlayer of strength and resilience, an uncommon stoicism - black belt in karate level tough - that would certainly be tested, but never, ever broken.  

Side by side with her beloved younger sibling Indira, the two encountered their world through art, from music festivals to green rooms, galleries, studios and film sets. Through this lens they experienced, processed and learned to express themselves - in performances, poems and paintings of their own. From their matching missing front teeth, captured in rows of adorable school photos on family fridges, to their tiny cowboy boots straight from Nashville, to their birthdays - only two days apart and celebrated as one big double whammy blowout with themes from square dance to birthday olympics - the pair had in each other a best friend and a champion, someone to be counted on. Appreciative of each other’s strengths, respectful of each other’s differences, nurturing, supportive and protective of one another, the special connection between Fabienne and Indira is the deepest and purest of bonds. Indira’s gentleness and tender care, always there between them, became an even more powerful source of strength and calm in recent weeks, and not only for Fabienne.  

The presence and influence of Fabienne’s parents, Shauna and Joshu, is reflected in each of her many excellent qualities. In her ambition, stamina, sociability, effusiveness and loyalty, Shauna. In her thoughtfulness, sensitivity, careful and contemplative side, Joshu. Her maturity, confidence and independence meant she required very little “parenting” as we typically understand it, but instead an environment of adventure, celebration and gratitude in which to thrive. No special achievement went uncelebrated, no opportunity missed to make something special out of the ordinary. They made it possible for Fabienne to squeeze every drop from every day. And she did. 

Adored beyond measure by a close and loving multitude of Thomas Family cousins - Michael, Katie, Maddy, Claire, Jill, Mia, Celyn, Anna - these bonds strengthened the foundation of Fabienne’s identity and values, and created a mountain of core memories. Big family dinners at Grandma and Grandpa’s house would usually be followed by music recitals in the basement, where Fabienne and Indira regularly performed their latest works. Fabienne’s hardcore board game strategizing made her a relentless opponent, always keen for one more round of Catan or Boggle.  A wellspring of fun, support, friendship and guidance, the aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and members of this sturdy family tree, rooted in Edmonton, are among Fabienne’s most cherished and significant relationships. 

Fabienne travelled extensively, to Edmonton at least twice a year for that all-important family time, and elsewhere in the world including France, Italy, Spain, Brazil and America. In the USA specifically there were trips to New York City, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville. Most of these trips included her mother and sibling, save for one major adventure in 2019 when she lived in Marseille for a high school exchange program. By plane, tour bus or private jet, these trips commemorated major life milestones in truly memorable fashion (like everything they did). 

A poised natural leader not only in her personal relationships but in her community, Fabienne served as President of the School Council in both junior high and high school, with campaign slogans such as “Let me serve you.” A highly decorated student, Fabienne’s many and varied school awards include the Concours d’art oratoire (French public speaking award, for a speech on the theme of Hope), STEM award, Academic award and Principal’s Citizenship Award (junior high). The high school list is longer: Clare Kravchenko Graduates’ Award, Robert M. Brooks Memorial Award, Maureen Mogan English Scholarship, Kyle A. MacDonald Scholarship, Dr. Steele Trophy, Daryl Sorbie Award for Creative Writing, Malvern Red and Black Society. 

When she was named Valedictorian for Malvern’s Class of 2021, she delivered a speech titled “Let us leave a legacy of love.” That speech urged her peers and friends to focus not on what they lost due to the pandemic (considerable, irreplaceable time, experiences, and people), but what they survived. In Fabienne we see, in so many ways, a rare example of an emotional intelligence that equals its academic counterpart. Her profound message, which easily applies to other aspects of her life, showed the kind of person she was. It reminds us again of the kind of person we wish she had more time to be.

At age 13, in Grade 8, Fabienne faced her first cancer diagnosis, osteosarcoma, and endured months of grueling treatments including chemotherapy and a below-the-knee amputation. At a time when simply navigating adolescence is challenge enough for most, Fabienne resolutely and determinedly bore this extra harrowing burden and carried on - completing grade 8 by studying at the hospital, re-learning to walk and run with her prostheses, and adapting to other less visible side effects of these treatments including hearing loss and celiac disease. Admirably but unsurprisingly, she drew wisdom, gratitude and joy from it all, choosing to channel these experiences into art and to further fortifying her positive mindset. 

Through teenagehood, Fabienne’s undeniably cool personal style flourished. A “fairy raver” mix of 1960s-inspired boho, club-ready glitter, winged liner, her favourite mary jane platform shoes (both fashion-forward and prosthesis-friendly) and self-tailored pieces comprised her signature look, all tied together with an ever-present sparkle and glow from eyeshadow uniquely worn on her cheeks. Part Penny Lane, part Arwen. A consummate thrifter and inventive sewist, Fabienne learned the art of the stitch from Helen, another hugely important person in her life. Their first of many projects, a treasured black felt swing coat, was proudly worn everywhere for longer than it actually fit. Helen introduced Fabienne to a world of DIY clothing design, creation and modification. She adjusted everything with a practical yet ingenious approach, learning a lesson that we can all apply more broadly: you can use a pattern, but you don’t have to.  

A talented and expressive writer, Fabienne’s first love - poetry - came into focus and practice in her early teens, a prolific and powerful creative period. Voracious and conscientious in her work, Fabienne explored and embraced many different forms of expression. A member of the BAM! Youth Poetry Slam Team (watch her performance of “Worth the Pain” here), founder of Bottom of the Heart, an online zine for and by young writers, and published author (read short story, “Labour of Love” here), Fabienne eagerly practiced and perfected her techniques on her favourite themes - hope, resilience and social justice. She tied all of these threads together in impressive fashion at Interstellar Rodeo’s 2019 edition, where she curated, performed and hosted the festival’s first-ever spoken word stage. 

In January 2024, she walked through the doors of the McGill Tribune, a fateful decision that would expand her writing practice to journalism and make a consequential and lasting impact on the student community. As The Tribune’s news editor, Fabienne’s relentless effort to seek justice and to advocate for others quickly made her an important member of the team. In the words of her editor-in-chief, mentor and friend Jas, she worked and wrote with vigor and power. One of her many notable pieces, a feature on campus divestment, is now mandatory reading for incoming newspaper staff, exemplary of her meticulous, thoughtful reporting. Read it here. So valued and respected was she at the newspaper that The Tribune recently changed its constitution to allow for non-students to hold the role of Director of Digital Strategy. This was done specifically with Fabienne in mind. These are parts of her legacy. 

Her legacy also includes a newly created grant, The Fabienne de Cartier Award for Poetry, intended to support and celebrate young and emerging Ontario poets. Established by her family and friends in her honour in partnership with the Ontario Arts Foundation, this Award ensures that Fabienne’s spirit - in particular her love of poetry, her experiences with writing as a means of processing and understanding her life, and her deep commitment to poetry as a worthy and precious form of expression - will inspire for many years to come. For more information, please click here.

Let’s rewind a bit, because in between graduating high school and moving to Montreal, Lucas happened. Lucas Edwards, butterfly catcher to her butterfly (an actual couples’ costume they wore one Halloween, how adorable is that), co-subject of a whirlwind summer courtship that sparked at a graduation party and officially began on July 25, 2021, one-half of a temporary long-distance relationship, a full-time English student, roommate to Fabienne and his sister Keegan in Montreal, and most recently, Fabienne’s husband. He’s charismatic like a movie star, says his mother-in-law. By all assessments a perfectly balanced one-man whirlwind to her calm collectedness, Lucas will say Fabienne makes him his best self, but it’s hard to think this whole thing would have flown if he wasn’t already of the highest calibre, the toughest stock, the softest heart. This is Fabienne we’re talking about, after all. Think of them when you walk through Riverdale Park, site of their official marriage on March 21, 2025. Think of them when you’re on a dance floor, whirling and spinning with the ones you love. Think of them when you need any small reason to smile. 

Shockingly, in October 2024, Fabienne received her second cancer diagnosis, a recurrence of osteosarcoma, this time in her lung. A statistically improbable event, but it happened anyway. The next few months would bring Fabienne and all involved in her care back to the gruelling routines of chemotherapy, scans, medical appointments, uncertainty, waiting. Once again, her attitude and outlook never wavered, and she pursued every available treatment option regardless of the pain or risk. During this time, Fabienne weathered significant swings in prognosis, some gut-punching, some miraculous, all wildly unpredictable. Days before her wedding, she was cleared for possibly curative surgery. Days before surgery, she learned the cancer had spread to her brain. Through it all, Fabienne remained focused on her priorities and loved ones, working on projects, applying for jobs, meeting her deadlines, having the same long phone conversations with close friends and family that kept her relationships solid through covid, moving cities and now, while back in the hospital.  

With all of this as the backdrop, Fabienne and Lucas made the ultimate and most epic romantic gesture on April 26, 2025 with The Wedding, a pure embodiment of wild, unbounded hope, a joyful psychic cleansing, an achingly raw and beautiful tear-jerker, a galvanizing of family and friends, a superabundance of love and, after midnight, a raucous, tequila-soaked rager. Fabienne, Lucas and friends danced, cried, drank, cried and danced all night. Marrying Lucas was her greatest joy. On the day and in writing for posterity, Fabienne has thanked this sweet human for giving her a lifetime of love and happiness. We’re grateful for this too. Along with Lucas comes the Edwards family and circle - Lynda and Steve, Camille and Keegan, Tasha and others -  who have wholeheartedly welcomed Fabienne into their home and lives, expanding her family and offering unlimited support, love and affection. 

The wedding was not the only major event amidst the extremes of Fabienne’s medical rollercoaster of recent months. In a surprising but immensely satisfying twist, she attended her convocation from McGill in May 2025, where she received her BA in English and Political Science. While her second diagnosis forced her to return to Toronto one semester early, Fabienne walked across the stage a deserving and exemplary member of the Class of 2025.    

To live her life, Fabienne faced fear, cosmic unfairness and uncertainty with immeasurable force of will. Anyone in her situation could and probably should justifiably feel angry about the vicious and brutal medical hand she was dealt. We feel it. Even the longest of odds went against her, and more than once. For this, we have nothing to rail against but life itself, how can it be this way? And yet, as Fabienne met every new and scary development with mettle and resolve, we also saw that this life itself was what kept her going. You sense she would have endured even more in order to be here with those she loved a little longer. Fabienne fought fiercely for everything and everyone she believed in, including herself. Though it demanded so much of her energy and time, this vicious and complex illness never changed the trajectory and velocity of her purpose and shine.

With so many achievements and even more promise, it’s right to mourn all that Fabienne did not have the opportunity to further accomplish and experience. She would have succeeded at whatever it is she chose to do. We can and should imagine her doing just about anything, carrying her dreams forward. She made the absolute most of her time, a “short story long” as she and best friend Valentina would call it. In knowing her, raising her, growing up with her, loving her and losing her, we are forever changed, wholly for the better, but not without this shared sadness. True to her reputation for giving generous, honest and reliable advice, she told us what we would need to do about losing her. She asked that we promise to take care of each other when she couldn’t anymore. She asked us to look upon all the cruelty of the world and still choose to be kind to ourselves. She reminded us there is still so much beauty to experience.    

We miss her ferociously. 

“We’ve been through a lot this year. Let it be a testament to our resilience. Let it be proof to ourselves that we are smart enough, we are strong enough, and we are brave enough to overcome anything.”
- Valedictorian Speech, 2021

“She rides with a lasso of Saturn’s rings,
A star-studded belt and sack full of jewels,
A comet tail tangled like silk in her braid
She answers to nobody’s rules”
- The Lunar Cowgirl, 2025 

“Hope is the remedy of fear.”
- “Hope” (poem), 1997