Brandon Michael Morino

With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful, gentle, kind, and wonderful son, Brandon Michael Morino. Brandon passed away on January 28, 2021, at the age of 20 years. On February 27th we would have celebrated his 21st birthday.

Brandon left behind so many people he touched in his lifetime, from his family (mom) Kristina, (dad) Mike and (sister) Bella Morino; Grandparents: Walter and Julie Hausberg, Joe Morino and Linda McDougall and Ken and Edna Forbes; Aunts and Uncles: Rod and Marj Hausberg, Neils and Elaine Kristensen, Dave and Angelica Plouffe, Joey Morino, Angie Forbes, Wayne and Linda Gionet, Tony and Janice Morino and Tom, Kaitlyn, Laura and Justice Morino; Cousins: Dawson Hausberg, Aaron, Isiah and Marquise Plouffe and Terje and Soren Kristensen. Along with many more family, friends, teachers, community members, employers, work friends, Sidney Thai Community and all the wonderful families and loving friendships made during his student exchange in Thailand.

Brandon grew up in Sidney, BC, he attended Discovery Daycare, Sidney elementary, North Saanich Middle School and Parklands Secondary, where he graduated in 2019. Brandon made lifelong impressions on every teacher he met, he was one of those bright, thoughtful, and helpful students. Brandon was also proud to be part of the LGBTQ communities where he lived. During Brandon’s school years, he had a love for the arts and made some amazing pieces of pottery and paintings we will cherish forever. Brandon was a Pisces and had a love for the water, in middle school he started sailing and in 2011 achieved his “White Sail III” level through the Canadian Yachting Association. Brandon started rowing at Elk Lake during his Grade 8 year and went on to join the local rowing club “Victoria City Rowing Club” and rowed with them and school for 3 years. Brandon also had the opportunity to hike and canoe the West Coast Trail twice during his senior years with Parklands Secondary.

Brandon received the “Laurie Cels Citizenship Award” in Grade 8 and was on the “Principles Honour Role” during the years of 2014-15 and 2015-16. He also attended and completed the “Stewards of the Future” program on June 5-7, 2015. All this led him to apply for a student exchange through our local Rotary Club “5020”. Brandon was granted exchange to Thailand during his Grade 11 year “2016-17” and what a life experience he had, making wonderful friendships with students from around the world and he cherished the families he stayed with during his exchange. We are so proud of him for having the courage to leave his family and friends for a year to broaden his horizons. In 2019, before his graduation, he was able to return to Thailand on vacation to visit his friends and families with his mom and best friend Ashley. This was an amazing experience; one his mom will cherish FOREVER. Brandon also enjoyed all his years with Scouts Canada. He attended Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and his dad was fortunate to be a leader during his younger years, attending meetings and campouts, memories he will cherish FOREVER.

Brandon was always a hard worker and took pride in his work. From a child, Brandon wanted to be a farmer of some sort, working with sustainable resources and the environment. Brandon worked at “Snowden House” farm from the age of 15 to 20 years where he met one of his favourite people “Laura Waters” owner of Snowden House. He also worked at Star Cinema in Sidney where he made some great friends and his mom loved the perks of free movies with her son.

After graduation, end of summer 2019, Brandon decided he wanted to spread his wings and move to Victoria with friends. He obtained a new job with London Drugs as a pharmacy assistant and really enjoyed learning something new, but Brandon always knew his passion was with the farming and environment field and was planning to attend Camosun College in 2021 to pursue this path.

Although Brandon’s time on this earth was too short, he was considered an “Old Soul” by everyone he met, and he lived his life with respect and dignity. We are not sure how life will go on without him in our lives, but all his experiences and memories will always be with us FOREVER. Brandon’s love for his sister, Bella, was so loving and caring, there will always be a piece missing from her heart.

With Covid disrupting our world, we are hoping and praying we will be able to celebrate Brandon’s life with family and friends in the near future.

Our family also wants to send out a special “Thank you” to everyone who contributed and organized a memorial bench in Brandon’s honour. The bench is located in Sidney, a special place for Brandon along the water walkway at Tulista Park sea walk. This was one of Brandon’s favourite places. The plaque on his bench reads:

BRANDON MICHAEL MORINO 

"Mr. Wonderful” February 27, 2000 – January 28, 2021 “Your beautiful Soul and loving Smile will be in in our hearts FOREVER”

Brandon you are gone, yet not forgotten. Although we are apart, your spirit lives within us FOREVER in our hearts.