“My brother and I were sitting in our house, our mother was out, and a social services lady came to our front door and told us to pack our bags,” he said. “It was confusing, because my mom was the hardest working lady I’d ever known. I guess they didn’t see that though.”
He and his brother were in foster care for three months, until his grandfather, Ralph Burnett, came from Saskatchewan to take custody of them. For a year and a half they went to school in Medstead, while their mom was getting better in Edmonton. She was then able to rejoin her sons and they took up residence in Spiritwood.
Both boys helped their grandfather in his automotive business, says his grandmother, Kim Brown, and while Dylan looks forward to studying engineering or business or both, Dallas is on his way to becoming a journeyman mechanic.
Dylan was a student first at Harley Clark Elementary School then Spiritwood High School where he excelled academically, athletically and as a volunteer and leader.
He said, “Ever since I was 10, I’ve dedicated myself to bettering myself and others because I didn’t want people to go through the things I had gone through. I had the honour to experience everything I have and grow from that, and a lot of people haven’t.”
He told the audience, “People don’t really realize your life isn’t so much about you as it is about others. I wouldn’t be standing here today because I shower every day or brush my teeth twice a day, I’m out there in the community and I’m trying to help everyone as much as I can.”
He says he gives back to people, because he’s been given security, confidence and strength by his family, friends and coaches.
“Sometimes people don’t get that. Everyone deserves to be loved.”
Dylan described his mother, Linda Burnett, as one of the most loving people he knows. He said she will sit at the kitchen table and write out countless notes that she’ll hand out on the street, put up on a message board or leave for people to find just so they feel they are loved, even by someone they don’t know.
“I give back to people I don’t know, because who am I to think that they have it better off than I do,” he said. “Maybe they need that pick up, maybe they need that sense that someone is there for them, and I’ve always tried to be here for everyone as much as I can.”
Dylan said, “I’ve been alive 18 years and 22 days, about 569,960,800 seconds.”
And it only takes a couple of seconds to say hi to someone, ask them how their day is going or smile as you walk by.
“You’re not really taking much out of your life at all and a lot of people don’t think about it like that. They think they have to buy someone something or give someone something of value to make their day better,” said Joachim. “But maybe all they need is someone to talk to, and I try to do that with as many people as I can.”
