Shawn Poirier

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Shawn Russell Poirier. A beloved son, grandson & friend to most who had the opportunity to meet him. Shawn passed away after a short battle with cancer at the age of 41 in Hope BC, on April 9th 2024.

At a distance from his hometown and most relatives, in the few weeks prior to his passing, Shawn was blessed with time with both of his parents, his aunt Camella, good family friend Neil, as well as visits from cousins Garrett and Nathan.

As many young Cheticampers do, in Shawn’s youth and teenage years, you’d have often found Shawn on the ice… or in the penalty box. It was because of his love of hockey that he earned his nickname of Big Show – one that lived on for decades thereafter. The bond that grew between the boys on that team is still strong and everlasting – especially after becoming 2001 provincial champions in Shawn’s grade 12 year.

After high school, Shawn was invited to continue his Big Show legacy at St. Francis Xavier University where he became part of their football team! A year later, he found himself in Halifax. It is then that Shawn became the protector of many while working as a bouncer at bars in the city. Years later, he moved out to Edmonton and worked on pipelines for a number of years.

Though Shawn was born in the small town of Cheticamp, it didn’t stop him from seeing the world through his work and travels in his 41 years of life. The map hung up in his apartment in BC showed dozens of pins throughout the country and into the US of places he was able to visit.

The last few years of his life were spent in beautiful Hope, BC. Though he would have loved to be amongst his relatives in Cape Breton at the time of his passing, the breathtaking views from his hospital window brought some peace and comfort during the hardest days. From Halifax to Edmonton to Hope, Shawn may have been far from his hometown but not far from love and support. With his best friend at his side through it all, John Michael MacEachearn, wife Alora and their three lovely children, Laila, his godchild Sienna and Ella – Shawn was with family.

There will not be a day that will go by where Georgina & Amedee John will not feel the loss of their beloved son. Shawn was everything to them, and they were everything to Shawn. Not an evening would go by without Shawn calling home for a chat or facetime with his parents.

Shawn also had a deep love and adoration for his furry companions, making sure his pups were treated like royalty. In Shawn’s passing, we have no doubt his little kings Lincoln and Grumpy will be racing over to greet him. And his beautiful Eddie will be cared for by his parents in Cheticamp, assuring that he will be equally spoiled and loved.

One cannot think of or talk about Shawn without a smile on their face. Shawn’s gift to the world was his humor and laughter. With a knack to effortlessly lift people’s spirits, Shawn always had something up his sleeves and a joke around the corner. Children, in particular, adored him affectionately calling him Menoncle Shawn or Uncle Big Show. Countless little ones were blessed to have him in their lives.

Shawn leaves behind his loving mother, Georgina (Roach) and devoted father, Amedee John, his grandfather Stanislas (Lionel), his aunts Yvonne, Yvette, Germaine, Marguerite Marie, Francine, Lucie Anne, Marie-Cecile, Lisette, his uncles, Joseph Charles, Daniel and Emile as well as an extended family of cousins. Shawn is also predeceased by his grandparents, Joseph à Charlot & Marie Anne Roach and Marguerite Poirier, uncles Russell, Claude & Nazaire, as well as aunt Patricia and Brenda.

Visitation will be held at the Cheticamp Funeral Home on Friday, June 28, 2024 from 7-9 pm. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 10:30 am in St. Peter’s Church, Cheticamp with Deacon Gerald LeBlanc officiating. Burial to follow in the parish cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cape Breton Cancer Patient Care Fund.

In this time of mourning, let us remember Shawn’s laughter and good spirit. Let’s celebrate the profound impact he had on all who had the privilege of knowing him. May his memory be a blessing and may he rest in peace.