Calgary family visits Victoria to honour late son’s memory and bird watch on his behalf

A family from Calgary, Alberta is currently in Victoria in an effort to honour their deceased son who passed away in early June of brain cancer. 

Easton Beatch was 12 years old when he passed, and had been battling cancer for three years up to that point. 

He was an avid bird watcher and had previously visited Victoria while sick in an effort to complete a ‘Big Year’ in birding by seeing 250 species of bird. 

Easton and his mother came out to Greater Victoria to complete this goal at the end of the year when he was stuck at 240 in December 2025. 

“We flew out to Victoria for the weekend to try and achieve his goal in between radiation treatments,” said Amanda Moppett-Beatch, Easton’s mother. 

“We reached out to the local Victoria bird watching group and were floored with the response. So many tips, so much support, local birders came out to help us and Easton achieved his goal quickly and ended up with 261 birds last year.”

She noted the family even had a book made to honor her son’s achievement, Easton’s Big Year of 2025.

After finding success in birding around Victoria, Easton was determined to return and bring along his father Jeff and sister Ellie. 

Amanda says her son wanted to show them his favourite spots to see birds, including Esquimalt Lagoon, Clover Point, Beacon Hill Park. 

Unfortunately, the family was unable to return after Easton’s health took a turn for the worse in March. 

“As he unfortunately passed away in our arms, Easton’s sister Ellie promised him she’d finish his ‘Big Year’ for him,” Amanda explained. 

Before he passed, Easton had set an ambitious goal of seeing 300 species of birds throughout 2026. At the time of his death, he had seen 136 bird species, and now his family is continuing his efforts as a way to honour his memory and love of birding. 

“Ellie said in her Eulogy speech ‘that’s a lot of birds to see,’ but we are all determined to continue to look for the birds, see Easton in the birds, and find joy and memories as we do so,” Amanda continued. 

“We are now at 147 birds.”

The family is going to be in Victoria until Tuesday, July 7th to bird watch around the capital region and hope that will get them nearer to their goal of 300 while also remembering their son and brother.