Guelph community organizer, harm reduction worker Kate Nixon dead at 23

GUELPH – Community organizer, harm reduction worker and volunteer Kate Nixon died on Dec. 29, at 23 years old, due to complications  from cancer. 

Nixon was the founder of Your Downtown Guelph Friends (YDGF), an entirely volunteer-run organization she launched during high school that serves weekly free meals in downtown Guelph. 

Her work also included advocating for homeless people, providing opiate overdose response training, Wet’suwet’en solidarity work,  facilitating programs with the Church of the Apostles’ Helper Bees,  organizing for Palestine, and fundraising for refugees, disaster relief and other causes. 

“If there is something tangible we can do, I love finding solutions to things and coming together and mobilizing to address things,” Nixon said in 2022. “I just try to be there where I can.” 

Community organizer Kween was a close friend of Nixon’s and described her as “a force of nature – her smile could light up the darkest room, her laughter was contagious, and her unwavering kindness touched everyone she met.

“This girl poured her heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears into helping others – including me.” 

In a statement posted on social media on Jan. 6, YDGF volunteers describe Nixon as “loving, selfless, empathetic, fiery and generous.

“She taught everyone about the sanctity of human life, dignity and connection through her actions and convictions,” they state.

“Her commitment to people over perfection will shape generations beyond her.” 

Volunteers say they will ensure the “stability and continuity” of YDGF’s work in Nixon’s absence. 

To donate to YDGF in memory of Nixon, visit gofundme.com/f/YDGF-in-memory-of-kate-nixon.

Nixon, in the orange “Every Child Matters” hoodie, stands along side of the people who gathered in St. George’s Square on Nov. 13 to show support for the homeless community living there.

 

Nixon previously credited her family for her community service work, noting her grandparents and great-grandparents also worked to feed people in need. Her mom, Dee, often volunteered by her side. 

Nixon’s memorial service will be held at the Church of Our Lady at 28 Norfolk St., in Guelph on Feb. 1. Visitation is from 10 to 10:45am and the service begins at 11am. It will be followed by a reception in the church hall. 

“Kate’s life, although devastatingly and unfairly short, will continue to impact our community for decades to come,” YDGF volunteers state. 

“Her love and devotion rippled through everyone she met, whether she was hunting down a pair of Facebook marketplace boots for a  community member, cooking a meal, or yelling at politicians; her love was always known.” 

To Nixon, community service was just “what you do.

“It’s not even that difficult to make a difference. You can do very little and see a change,” she said. 

Reporter