Kevin Cournoyer was known among friends and family for his big, goofy smile.

“You could never have a serious conversation with him without it ending with you laughing,” his sister, Stephanie Cournoyer, told the Journal.

“He was definitely the life of the party and had the best sense of humour.”

The 20-year-old Winnipeg native and second-year Queen’s student was found dead last Wednesday night at Harkness International Hall by an acquaintance.

Kingston Police said Cournoyer, Sci ’15, died suddenly. He added that Police aren’t treating the case as suspicious or as a suicide.

It’s unknown whether Kevin had any pre-existing medical conditions.

After studying at the University of Manitoba, Cournoyer transferred to Queen’s to complete his studies in electrical engineering.

Cournoyer’s grandfather encouraged him to look at universities in Ontario, his sister said.

“He knew he could do better than U of M,” she said. “He was the smartest one in our family.”

After hearing he had been accepted to Queen’s, Kevin was ecstatic, she added.

He was an avid outdoor enthusiast and loved to played flag football and hockey for fun, where he met many friends.

“Kevin was always into sports and was such an easy person to talk to … he was very personable,” she said.

For Stephanie, her brother will always be remembered for the jokes he pulled last Christmas.

The Cournoyer family went to a friend’s house for Christmas Eve, where Kevin joked that they were all misfits.

“Usually one of us stays behind, but this year all of us went as a family … that ride there was different for some reason,” she said.

“He was just so funny and made us and everyone else laugh all the time.”

This past year was one of the best for Kevin, she said.

She added that she’s never seen him have more fun than at Queen’s.

“This was probably the happiest year of his life there,” she said. “[He] made so many friends, and I remember him with his purple jacket and when he showed it and cut his hair … it was shocking.”

He loved the campus life, and found a house to live in next year with friends.

“The last time my parents Skyped with him they were just seeing him become an actual man and [become] responsible,” she said.

Following Kevin’s death, his parents came to Kingston and met some of his friends. This was a comfort to them, Stephanie said.

“It was one thing having him talk about the people he kept on meeting but actually meeting these people was very helpful for them,” she said.

Kevin’s funeral service will take place tomorrow at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Winnipeg.

Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at glenlawn.ca.

— Vincent Matak

Students can contact Health, Counselling and Disability Services at 613-533-6000 ext. 78264