It saddens us to share the passing of Avery Goslin (1997-2023). Avery joined Kerry’s Place Autism Services, Young Adults Project in early 2021 to receive help on her employment and post-secondary journey. Avery participated frequently in the Peer Support Group and in August 2021 volunteered to be a Peer Mentor. Avery worked with the Kerry’s Place staff to develop the Peer Support Group topics, create discussion questions, and then facilitate the session with other Peer Mentors and an Autism Consultant.
Avery had a talent for recognizing people in need of help and taking action to support them. Avery was able to identify her peers struggling with their mental health and responded by reaching out privately to share resources and ensure that person knew there was help.
Avery would go above and beyond when leading a support group. In January 2023, Avery facilitated the Anxiety, Burnout, and Mindfulness Peer Support group. For this session, Avery took the time to research different coping techniques and lead a breathing exercise during session.
Avery had met many milestones during her time as a Peer Mentor. We are fortunate that we were able to celebrate Avery graduating from her program to become a Personal Support Worker (PSW) and also finding employment.
Avery will be missed but not forgotten. Avery is an inspiration and was always there to empower others to believe in themselves as they worked towards employment, post-secondary and independent living.
Remembering Avery, Words from the Family:
Our dear sweet kind Avery suddenly left this world, and our hearts and minds are shattered.
Avery like all our children is forever in our hearts and always on our minds. Avery loved the beauty of nature combined with an insatiable curiosity and desire to learn and create. Avery was an artist, a musician with the gift of a beautiful voice, a caregiver, a talented chef, a forager, a naturalist, a dog lover and so much more. Avery was a kind, gentle and caring soul with a bright smile and sharp wit who above all was a beautiful human being that cared deeply for people.
Avery was born on February 12, 1997, when our family was blessed with twin boys. Ave identified with the pronouns she/her and was just beginning to share this part of her identity with others.
As a child, Avery took the award for ‘Best belly laugh’. Our family has fond memories of playtime in Ave’s childhood. Her brothers, parents, and grandparents all loved spending time in nature together and exploring other parts of the world. Avery pursued learning and knowledge in a unique way. Ave identified as having autism and was inflicted with epilepsy.
As a person who identified as having Autism, Avery was proud to help Kerry’s Place as a peer mentor. Avery’s principles in life were to leave a light footprint on the earth, to shun profits made through exploitation, and to offer help to others in as many ways as possible. Ave taught us to appreciate the connectedness of nature, and from childhood, observed things in the natural world that others missed. Avery’s elder brother Ben, and twin brother, Noah, had special relationships that Ave often expressed her gratitude for. Avery and her parents Harry and Michelle had a special bond that was built on a deep mutual caring and love. Avery loved and appreciated family relationships including his Nana, Aunt Sherri and Paul, Aunt Holly and Ken, Uncle Jonathan, and family and Ally. Her impact will stay in our hearts forever.
We loved so many things about Avery. Avery knew people need be kind to one another and that we need to radically transform the world and that we can only get there by being true to our authentic self.
She will be missed every day.
