Brother of shed fire victim urges continued support for homeless people

Relatives of a man killed in a northwest Calgary barn fire earlier this week are remembering him as a fun-loving and kind father.

Robbie Daniels said his brother-in-law, Trent Ryder Hunter, 35, was one of the three people killed in Monday's fire.

The three men are believed to have used a shed outside Lowe's Castle in Croft to keep warm.

Daniels said he knew Ryder Hunter about 20 years ago. He remembers his brother-in-law as a good father and a cheerful, pleasant person.

“Always encouraging people, and you know making people laugh. That was his thing, yeah, make people laugh,” Daniels told CTV News.

“She was a singer, she was a pow-wow singer.”

Daniels said his brother-in-law struggled with drug addiction but also struggled to find housing with his wife and son.

Over the past five years, Daniels has struggled with addiction and homelessness in recovery.

“It's very important not to give up support for people with addictions,” Daniels said.

Robbie Daniels

He now works with Sober Crew Calgary, a group that helps other addicts get sober.

Daniels wanted to share her brother-in-law's story to help spread the word that more support is needed for people suffering from addiction and homelessness.

“It's hard, it's a struggle to deal with drug addiction and homelessness and things like that,” he said.

Advocates said earlier this week that the three deaths are a reminder that current efforts to support vulnerable people in Calgary are not enough.

According to the latest Calgary Census, 29 percent of the more than 2,700 homeless people in Calgary are homeless.