Family of murdered Quebec woman honours her legacy with hockey helmet stickers to help fight domestic violence

Devon Watt and their sister Kelsey were inseparable.

Siblings and best friends — Kelsey Watt could’ve always been seen cheering others on — in life and at every of Devon’s hockey games.

“She was always the loudest person in the crowd,” Devon recalled, smiling. “She would defend me against opposing teams, parents, opposing coaches, players, referees, even if on the rare occasion the penalties were warranted, she would still defend me regardless.”

“My sister was the most caring, determined, hilarious, intelligent individual ever,” they added.

In September 2024, Kelsey went missing.

After days of searching, the body of the 29-year-old mother was found not far from her home in a wooded area — in Hemmingford about 60 kilometres south of Montreal — near the U.S. border.

Her fiancée was charged in her death and is currently awaiting trial.

“It was actually a friend of ours who ended up finding her,” said Devon. “Which was obviously like a surreal moment, but changed all of our lives ultimately as of that second.”

“We’re all still trying to cope, trying to figure it out one day at a time,” they added. “But my life will never ever be the same.”

In a moving tribute to their sister, Devon is now turning their grief into a powerful fundraiser.

Selling specially designed stickers for hockey helmets.

“The stickers themselves are just a way to kind of continue having Kelsey with me at all my hockey games,” they explained.

“I just set up an Etsy page. It’s called the Kelsey 29 Awareness as the shop.”

The initiative, not only a way to honour Kelsey’s memory –- number 29 printed on each, symbolizing the age she was and her birth date: Sept. 29 –- but it’s also a heartfelt gesture to support victims of intimate partner violence.

All the proceeds raised, going towards the non-profit: SOS violence conjugale.

All while Hemmingford’s ball hockey tournament happening July 5 is being renamed the “Kelsey Cup” — continuing her legacy. 

“From the minute she went missing, like it felt like no matter what I did, didn’t amount to enough or that I should have done more beforehand or even now in the trial process, it’s just immensely hard to go through,” said Devon.

“I just feel like I can’t do anything. So, this is a way that I can kind of take that power back a little bit and make a difference,” they added.

“That no other woman has to suffer the way Kels did or that families don’t have to go through what we’re going through now.”

If you need help, reach out. Call SOS violence conjugale 24/7 at 1-800-363-9010.

If you fear you may become violent towards your partner, call PRO-GAM for an appointment at 514-270-8462.