Photo From Facebook/RajeshJohnPJ

By Meghan Cobb

'ALWAYS INSPIRING AND POSITIVE'

Rajesh John remembered as kindhearted, helpful, thoughtful and caring

Aug 8, 2022 | 5:10 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Rajesh John, known as John to his friends, is being remembered as a kindhearted, helpful, thoughtful and caring person who spent most of his time with friends and family, encouraging them to live an active lifestyle.

John’s body was recovered at the base of a waterfall in the Lynx Creek area after being reported missing on Friday. John, who was an active fisher and vlogger, had gone to the mountains to fish for trout Wednesday morning but didn’t return home as planned on Thursday.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP and search and rescue combed the area on Saturday and Sunday with the help of the local fishing community. Matthew Doyle was one of about six anglers from across the province who travelled to the Castle Mountain area to look for John.

“I thought ‘I wish there was something I could do,'” said Doyle after his wife told him John had been reported missing. “I went through a bunch of different scenarios in my head and at first a five-to-six hour drive one way seemed to be a bit much, but I got a phone call from my buddy Glen who was also really close with John and he said we’re all going out tomorrow, are you coming and I said ‘Let’s go now.'”

Medicine Hat skateboarders humanitarian efforts in Mexico to hit the big screen

23h ago

UPDATED

Steam-powered passenger train passed through Medicine Hat on Friday

Apr 26, 2024

Medicine Hat Public Library Comic Con taking place May 4

Apr 26, 2024

Doyle says the group used their knowledge of fishing in the area and John’s habits to search the area for him.

“We got there about 2 a.m. [on Friday] and we searched, and searched, and searched,” said Doyle. “We got together with Search and Rescue around 9:45 when they got there, told them what we knew and they based their search off that. We kept scouring and going over the same areas just in case we missed anything.”

John’s body was recovered on Sunday. An update from the RCMP says there doesn’t appear to be any evidence of foul play. An investigation under the Fatality Inquiries Act, in tandem with the Medical Examiner’s investigation, will now begin.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support John’s family. The page, run by the Medicine Hat Malayali Association and the Medicine Hat Hindu Association, says all funds raised will go directly to John’s wife and three-year-old son.

The funds will ease the financial burdens of his funeral expenses, aging parents, medical expenses, education for his son and support for his wife. According to the page, John was the sole breadwinner for his family and parents.

John was a talented artist and worked as a disability support worker at Redi Enterprises Society in Medicine Hat. The page describes John as kindhearted, helpful, thoughtful and caring.

It’s a description that is echoed by the province’s fishing community. Doyle says there was never any doubt about the kind of person John was, despite their interactions being mostly online.

“He would post a wonderful video or a beautiful fish he caught and there was lots of congratulations,” said Doyle. “He was a very inspiring man with his videos and his kind words. Always inspiring and positive and uplifting words that came from John.”