‘This is really, really hard:’ victim of Smiths Falls Boxing Day homicide remembered

A loving mother, a strong woman with a dark sense of humour — that’s how Caitlyn Beute describes her best friend Chantale Lebrun, who was the victim of a Boxing Day homicide in Smiths Falls.

It was in the early morning on Sunday, December 26 when local cops attended to a residence on Brockville Street.

In a news release given out later that day, Smiths Falls police said the scene was that of a domestic-related homicide.

At the time, police had not released the names of the individuals involved, but did say a 39-year-old man was in custody.

However, Beute wanted to do right by her best friend and make sure her four daughters would be taken care of, so she started a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $30,000.

The money, Beute explained to CityNews Ottawa, would go towards funeral costs and cremation costs. Whatever would be left over, would be given to her daughters.

Beute met Lebrun about a decade ago when they both worked at a local Wal-Mart.

Once they left their jobs at the store, they kept in touch and Lebrun would go on to become Beute’s family photographer.

“She first took pictures of my first born,” Beute recalled. “She watched my kids grow up.”

And ever since, the two became inseparable, doing everything together.

Lebrun, she said, was a photographer in her thirties that everyone in the neighbourhood went to for photos. She was well known — and that’s why the news of her passing has had a deep impact on the community.

“This is really, really hard,” Beute said. “She was one of the best in our area. She took everyone’s photos, so everyone in our town is feeling the same from it because at some time or another, they have crossed paths with her.”

But Lebrun’s photography business eventually went under due to problems she was having in her relationship with her husband, Beute said.

“She was an amazing photographer. She had a New Years resolution to start up her business again slowly. [Her husband] robbed us — and he did it, and didn’t care. He didn’t care about the girls, or her.”

Above all, though, Lebrun will be remembered as a great mother — always putting them first and doing everything she could for her kids, Beute said. She always made sure they were never without.

It was perhaps her sarcastic, dark sense of humour, though, that was Beute’s favourite memory of her friend.

The Sir Wilfried Laurier Secondary School graduate was always there to make herself and others laugh, Beute remembered.

But,  Beute explained, Lebrun was in a “toxic relationship.”

And according to Beute, Lebrun had asked for a separation and divorce from her husband, who did not want the same thing, which created more tension between the two.

A cause of death for Lebrun was not released by police.

Since the GoFundMe has been made live, as of Monday, December 27 at about 11:30 a.m., it has raised $15,865 through 239 donors.

When Lebrun is cremated, Beute said a pinch of the mother’s ashes will be put into necklaces for each of her children and others close to her, so they can carry her whenever and wherever they go.

“She was trying to break free,” Beute said. “She was incredible.”

To submit a donation, visit the GoFundMe for Lebrun’s page here.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, there are resources available that can help.

Interval House of Ottawa has a 24/7 crisis line, which can be reached 613-234-518, toll free at 613-234-5193 or through email at residential@intervalhouseottawa.org.

Another local resource available is the Counselling and Family Service Ottawa (CFS), a non-profit charitable organization. CFS can be reached at 613-233-8478 or through email at info@cfsottawa.ca.