The stabbing victim was remembered for helping Ukrainians fleeing the war

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The victim of a fatal stabbing in McKenzie Town earlier this week has been remembered as a selfless and caring man who will leave a lasting impression on the many he helped, including those he helped flee war-torn Ukraine.

Joel Aaron Clarke, 46, was stabbed to death at his home in Prestwick Terrace SE on Monday morning.

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Clark's tenant, Ryan Kinoshita, 29, has been charged with second-degree murder.

“Investigators believe the fatal attack was the result of an argument between the victim and the accused,” police said in a news release earlier this week.

Derek Henson, a longtime friend of Clark's, said his death was an “absolute tragedy” but said he believes his friend will be remembered for the good he did for those around him.

“The memory of him, who he was and everything that he did, I think will live on in all the people that he helped and impacted and changed,” said Henson, who said he knew Clark for 30 years. Dating as young adults in Victoria, BC

“His legacy is not financial or anything, but his life when he was with us.”

Henson says Clarke had close ties to Ukraine. He moved to the country with the goal of opening a bed and breakfast and was living there in 2022 when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out.

In the early days of the conflict, Clarke opened her apartment in Lviv, near the country's western border, to refugees heading for Poland. Facebook posts about Clark's death include several comments from Ukrainians he helped while abroad, describing him as an incredibly kind and compassionate man.

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“These reports coming in from the Ukrainians speak volumes — that's the kind of guy he was,” Henson said. “He was always there for everyone. He wanted to help as much as he could.

“If he saw a need, he would fill that need.”

Henson said that despite having no children of his own, Clark was a family man who cared deeply for his brother, sister and mother. She was wonderful with children and developed a deep bond with her niece and nephew.

“He used to talk about them a lot,” Henson said. “He would visit them (at a high level) as long as he lived. It was a big thing for him.”

Clark has owned the home in Prestwick for at least 15 years, but Henson said he does not believe Clark lived there at the time of his death. Henson Clarke said since returning from the Ukraine, he has been living with his brother at a high level and stays with friends or family when he visits Calgary.

“If he had been there, it certainly wouldn't have caused a conflict. . . It wasn't that he was aggressive towards the person,” Henson said.

According to Henson, Clark's high-profile production job was mostly a means to an end, as was his recruiting success — his goal was to return to his overseas job.

“Everything he was doing here was so he could get back to what he was doing in Ukraine,” Henson said.

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