The quiet of the memorial service was broken by the fragile voice of a nine-year-old girl saying goodbye to her sister. “Fly high my angel,” she whispered, words that brought many in attendance to tears as the Kelowna community gathered to honour the life of Lexi Blackwood.
Lexi was only 12 when she died by suicide, a tragedy that has shaken her family and renewed painful conversations about bullying, school safety, and youth mental health across British Columbia.
Those closest to Lexi remember her as vibrant and self-assured — a child who once moved through the world with confidence and ease. Her father, Ryan Marshall, says that changed dramatically when she entered middle school.
“She was confident, outgoing, just full of herself in a healthy way,” Marshall said. “But once the bullying started, it chipped away at her every single day until there was nothing left.”
According to the family, Lexi confided last fall that she was being verbally harassed at school. The comments, often about her appearance, came not only from classmates but sometimes from students she didn’t even know. What may have seemed like words to others became an unrelenting burden for Lexi.
Over time, her family watched her withdraw. The laughter faded. Her self-esteem collapsed. The girl who once believed in herself began to disappear.
Marshall says the family sought help from the school, hoping administrators would intervene directly. Instead, they were referred to an external youth counselling centre. While grateful for mental health supports, the family questions why the focus appeared to be on Lexi coping with the situation rather than stopping the behaviour causing her distress.
Central Okanagan Public Schools released a statement expressing condolences and calling Lexi’s death an “unimaginable loss.” The district said it follows provincial safety and well-being guidelines but could not comment on specific circumstances.
For Lexi’s grandfather, Dwight Blackwood, the steps taken felt insufficient. He recalls a hallway monitor being assigned briefly, but says Lexi herself was allowed to leave class early to avoid crowds — a solution that, in his view, placed the burden on the victim.
“She wasn’t even in the hallway,” he said. “She was being removed from the situation instead of the problem being dealt with.”
The family says Lexi eventually missed two weeks of school due to the stress. When she returned, they felt communication from school officials remained minimal, and the bullying itself was never fully addressed.
Now, as they mourn their daughter and granddaughter, the Blackwood and Marshall families are urging meaningful change. They are calling for schools to adopt proactive mental health supports, routine wellness check-ins, and stronger responses to bullying that don’t rely solely on students to speak up when they’re already overwhelmed.
“We need systems that step in before it gets this far,” Marshall said. “Kids shouldn’t have to be brave enough to ask for help when they’re already broken.”
As Kelowna remembers Lexi Blackwood, her family hopes her story will lead to action — and that her light, once dimmed far too soon, will help protect other children in the future.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In Canada, the Suicide Crisis Helpline can be reached by calling or texting 9-8-8, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.