EDMONTON – For 16 years, Dean Park and Cameron Ambrose rehearsed, travelled and performed with Todd Chisholm.
They also laughed.
“Man, he just made everybody laugh,” Park said with a smile. “We would laugh on stage. You’d turn around at him and just laugh because… his mannerisms, his facial expressions, his energy.”
“He knew how to really make you enjoy what you were doing,” Ambrose agreed.
On Friday, Chisholm was killed in an avalanche in the Renshaw region near McBride, B.C. He was one of five Alberta men who died.
READ MORE: 5 Albertans killed in avalanche near McBride, B.C.
Chisholm’s friends say he was always doing something fun and had a love of adventure.
“He just had a lust for life,” Ambrose said. “That’s what makes this so tragic — he really loved being alive.
“It’s hard to imagine life without him here.”
Chisholm was the drummer in the rock band Exit 303 and his friends say there’s no doubt he was the star.
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“Todd, he was full of energy,” Park said. “When we played live, Todd was the guy that everybody wanted to watch.”
“He took time out to talk to people and really connect with people,” Ambrose added. “I think that was his Maritime upbringing, that he was just genuine that way.”
Chisholm’s band-mates say his passions were diverse: he loved music, sledding, fishing, camping and spending time with his family.
“Loved his wife, loved his kids, loved his friends. He had such a diverse group of friends,” Park said.
“He was a fantastic guy and had a huge heart,” Ambrose said.
The 47-year-old leaves behind a wife and four children.
READ MORE: Friends, family share moving memories about victims of Friday’s deadly avalanche
In a statement, his family said:
“Todd had a passion for sledding in the mountains. He died too young doing what he enjoyed with his sledding buddies. Thanks to the four friends who were with Todd for their efforts. Todd will be sadly missed by his wife of 18 years, children, mother and father, brothers and sister, extended family, friends and community.”
The statement went on to say: “Todd enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and playing games with his children and wife. He also enjoyed music, quading and playing drums with the band.”
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