Julie Simard’s pain is a parent’s worst nightmare.
She’s in shock that her son is gone, saying the circumstances surrounding his death in early February are surreal.
“I tell myself it’s impossible, that my son’s life was taken like that,” Simard says. “He was such a good kid.”
At just 18 years old, Tristan Simard was killed far from his St. Jérôme home.
Ontario Provincial Police say Tristan and another man were shot trying to force their way into a residence in South Glengarry.
According to CTV’s colleagues at Noovo, the teen was recruited by a motorcycle gang.
The mission was to rob the house and leave with $2,500 each.
“He was always smiling, he was the one who cheered everyone up,” his mom says. “Not for a second did I suspect he was in bad company.”
She adds that Tristan was happy: had had a loving family; a passion for music; and a girlfriend of three years, who is now grieving his loss.
“He was my whole life,” she says. “I really adored him. It’s really hard. This won’t be an easy part of my life.”
His friends are also struggling.
“He was really generous,” one of them said, standing by his gravesite. “No matter the hour, he was there for us.”
Tristan’s mom says he was manipulated.
He lacked a father figure, and felt pressure to make money, traits criminals exploited for their own gain.
“I trusted him,” she says. “But I say to parents, dig deeper. If you feel your child’s behaviour is changing, they’re a little more sad, more heavy-hearted, make sure you know who they’re hanging out with.”
Tristan’s bedroom remains untouched.
His slippers under the desk, hockey medals on the shelves, and photos of his loved ones around the room, snapshots of a life full of potential.
Simard wants her pain to serve as a warning for parents to stay alert and make sure their teenagers aren’t falling in with the wrong crowd.
