Michael "Mike" Everett

1985 - 2020  (35 years)

• Name	Michael "Mike" Everett
  Born	18 Nov 1985	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	charity, social work
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-62580
  Died	24 Nov 2020	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Wingham Cemetery, Wingham, Huron Co., Ontario
  Person ID	I62580	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Father	David Everett
  Mother	Barbara
  Family ID	F59237	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Lifetimes: Michael Everett overcome struggles to help those in need By Valerie Hill Special to the Record In his young life, Michael Everett had struggled with addiction, poverty, serious illness and even homelessness, yet he possessed an ability to always look forward, to use what he had learned to help others. Mike once told a reporter what made him successful as a social worker wasn't formal education - he didn't graduate from his college program \emdash but rather it was the lessons he'd learned in life. His mother, Barb Everett, recalled several years ago when she returned home after using an ATM where she had encountered an incoherent homeless man. "I told my son about it and he immediately went to check on him, making sure he was all right, had clothes to wear, a place to go, gave him gift certificates to Tim Hortons and Dollarama," said Barb. In the summer of 2020, Mike launched Struggles of the City, a grassroots group of volunteers who helped the homeless and those with addictions. It was not an organization he had planned to launch, it just evolved after he noticed a homeless man on a Kitchener street and realized there were so many like him, people with families, with stories. His brother, Jeff Everett, recalled that Mike approached the man, asked if he could take his photo and if he could help him. After posting the photo on social media, the support came swiftly. Within three days, Mike had 1,000 people following his efforts. It started with that one man but grew beyond anything he could imagine. Nadine Green, co-ordinator and mother bear of the residents at Lot 41 Better Tent City, remembered when Mike came to the facility in the industrial section of Kitchener last summer. He wanted to volunteer. He wanted to help the people that Lot 42 served. She hadn't realized how much help she needed until Mike showed up. "He was good for me," said Nadine. "He said I was his mentor but I thought he was my mentor." She referred to Mike as "a fire-starter," a man who fiercely stood up for the homeless, raising hell when necessary. "A lot of guys at Lot 42 have addiction issues: he'd talk to them and say 'I used to be like that,' '' she said. "They'd feel a kinship and see how he was doing now. He was very straightforward saying what his issues were." Ron Doyle owns the industrial space where Lot 42 is located. He had offered his land for this new way of helping the homeless. "I didn't know him very long but he was full of enthusiasm," said Ron. "He'd had problems in his past and now he was trying to make a difference." Ron said Mike seemed to be impeded only by his debilitating stomach issues. Mike, a talented singer/songwriter who used music to bring people together, was born the eldest of two sons, Nov. 18, 1985, to Barb and David Everett, in Kitchener. His aunt, Violet Everett-Bradley, said he always possessed a magnetism that drew people. "Everybody loved Mike," said Violet. "He was handsome as a kid and had a magical way about him, people were attracted to him, even as a child." It took years for Mike to find his passion. He loved to cook, worked in restaurants and even ran his own business, "Licensed to Grill." His mom said he just wasn't fulfilled. Then he saw that homeless man last summer and everything changed. "When he started Struggles of the City, that's when he found his passion," said Jeff. Volunteering with Lot 42 and Struggles of the City didn't come with a paycheque so he took a job with the Working Centre, as a support worker in a group home. Nadine said Mike was proud of the work he was doing with the residents. Mike had two daughters and loved being their dad. Jeff said he would "light up" whenever his girls were around and now, through them, his legacy as a man with an open heart and open mind will continue. "He was such an amazing soul, I'm proud to call him my brother," said Jeff. Mike was hospitalized and died Nov. 24, 2020, of undetermined cause. "Lifetimes: Michael Everett Overcome Struggles To Help Those In Need". 2020. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/life/2020/12/14/lifetimes-michael-everett-overcome-struggles-to-help-those-in-need.html. ___________________ Obituary of Michael Everett At Grand River Hospital on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, Michael Everett of Kitchener, passed away suddenly at the age of 35. Beloved son of David Everett and Barbara Everett. Dear brother of Jeffrey & Suni Everett. Mike will be missed by his daughters Layla and her mom Souna and Lyric and her mom Taylor. Cherished nephew of Richard & Anne, Violet, Daniel & Jane, Stanley and Paul & Franca Everett and Ross & Sue MacDonald. Mike will be lovingly remembered by his cousins and many friends. Predeceased by his grandparents Lloyd & Katherine Everett and John & Margaret MacDonald and uncle Lawrence Everett. Michael founded the group 'Struggles of the City' which was an outreach program intended to help members of his community by providing meals, clothing and support, among various other things. He had a huge heart and this program gave him a purpose in life. His work will never be forgotten by the countless people he has helped and encouraged in his life. "In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private graveside service will be held at Wingham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to a charity of your choice would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. https://necrocanada.com/obituaries-2020/michaeleverett-1985-2020/

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 18 Nov 1985 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Interesting - charity, social work - - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 24 Nov 2020 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Wingham Cemetery, Wingham, Huron Co., Ontario  = Link to Google Earth