Siblings remember 24-year-old QEW crash victim as a free spirit who chased her dreams

TORONTO —
The siblings of a girl who died in a crash on the Queen Elizabeth Means in Burlington Ont. final week are remembering their youthful sister as a free spirit who lived her 24 years “simply working” and chasing her desires.

Courtney Duguay, initially from Owen Sound, Ont., was one of two people who died following a four-vehicle collision within the early morning of Jan. 26.

“It is nonetheless fairly stunning,” her sister Brittany Fobert informed CTV Information Toronto. “It did not even cross my thoughts that I would ever should bury a youthful sibling.”

“ your grandparents or your mother and father, you anticipate to should expertise that loss sooner or later, however a youthful sister, you do not ever anticipate to lose.”

In response to police, a Mitsubishi Lancer crossed over from the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes on the QEW and struck two different autos at Model Avenue, whereas a fourth automobile rolled right into a ditch.

Duguay was a passenger within the Mitsubishi Lancer. She and 23-year-old Kitchener resident Ceara Publuske, who was driving the car, have been pronounced useless on the scene.

Three different folks have been transported to the hospital with numerous accidents. Investigators haven’t launched any additional particulars surrounding the circumstances of the crash.

In response to Duguay’s household, she had been was staying together with her dad in Niagara Area via the winter holidays and the month of January. On the day she died, she had been picked up by a buddy with the intent of staying in Kitchener for per week earlier than heading again to Toronto for a job interview.

Duguay had moved from Owen Sound to Toronto in June 2019, one thing her household mentioned was a dream of hers from a really younger age.

“She would virtually like discuss it excessively,” Brittany Fobert mentioned. “I feel she beloved being within the coronary heart of town, even simply the rustle and bustle of the subway and all the pieces.”

Duguay has been described by her siblings as somebody who was outgoing, sort and adventurous. Brittany Fobert informed CTV Information Toronto that on a go to to Toronto previous to her transfer, her sister chatted with a server at a Boston Pizza and left with a job—setting her up for her first yr within the huge metropolis.

“She would speak to anybody,” her sister mentioned. ‘It actually simply made me so proud… when she was working at Boston Pizza she would go outdoors for her break and he or she’d order a pizza for her break or no matter after which like, she would really like see a homeless individual and simply give them her pizza.”

“She did not discriminate,” her different sister Tiffany Fobert added. “It did not matter if you happen to had one greenback or 1,000,000 {dollars}, she would speak to you. She would care about your day.”

Tiffany Fobert mentioned that on the day her sister died, she had picked up the e book “Little Lady.” She informed CTV Information Toronto that there have been character traits from every character that reminded her of her sister—Duguay had Jo’s thirst for journey, Beth’s nurturing character, and Amy’s sassy spirit.

“I simply keep in mind our childhood, it was sisterhood,” Tiffany Fobert mentioned. “It was that story, but it surely wasn’t that story. And, I imply, everybody would not get that, and I bought that. It brings me numerous consolation as a result of she actually did, she made lots of people’s lives fuller for being right here.”

Buddies of Duguay’s have made related statements—that she was outgoing, made everybody smile and had a deep love of animals, particularly canine.

“Everyone she met, and even handed, she would present all of the love she might,” Agella Kodopulos mentioned final week. “She believed that on daily basis she was rising, evolving, and studying new issues about herself and life. She by no means stopped being pleased and desirous to unfold pleasure.”

“She has a tattoo that claims ‘tomorrow is rarely promised’ and that’s been hitting me all day. I’m planning on getting the identical one.”

Her sister mentioned that Duguay had numerous tattoos—greater than she most likely let on—however that so lots of them have been consultant of the folks she beloved and the constructive outlook she had on life.

“She had one on her collarbone and it says “each little factor is gonna be all proper,” that is clearly Bob Marley quote, after which on her arm she has “someday at a time.” On her stomach, it says “by no means stopped dreaming.”

Duguay’s household and pals mentioned she continuously labored at bettering herself and discovering new passions. When she was laid off at Boston Pizza as a result of COVID-19, she took up pictures. Brittany Fobert mentioned that she would ship 50 images at a time of buildings and locations round Toronto and that she was pondering of saving up for a digicam.

“At the least that I’m able to flip via these images and simply sort of consider her,” Brittany Fobert mentioned.

Whether or not it’s a fond reminiscence of a hike or a virtually each day telephone name on a stroll, her household and pals say that Duguay lived life to the fullest, and can all the time be remembered for her sort and constructive spirit.

“I really feel like it’s a actually, actually unhappy time however on the similar time she was 24 years and he or she lived them, like working,” Tiffany Fobert mentioned. “Yeah, she lived her years simply working.”