Daniel Ian Thornhill

   Passed away after a courageous battle with lung cancer, in his 42nd year. Will be dearly missed by his mother Lynn, father Bill, sister Niki, brother-in-law Brad Roberts, nephews Nathan and Cole Roberts, partner Stephanie DaCosta, his many aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as his numerous friends in Uxbridge, Toronto, Montreal, and on the West Coast.

Dan was the kind of guy everyone loved. He was kind and generous, adventurous and fun, easy going and infinitely patient. Dan was a creative spirit and sought many different outlets for his talent from painting, to sculpture, to music, and programming. Once completing his degree at OCAD, Dan  dedicated his career to the National Film Board’s Education Department.  During his time there he created fun and interactive programs for children of all ages, participated in Toronto’s Nuit Blanche, and built an interactive igloo that toured various museums in Canada giving thousands of families the opportunity to learn through play.

There is no hiding the fact that Dan. loved. music: finding new music, listening to old music, attending concerts, and supporting local bands. To say his record collection is massive would be an understatement. Dan could often be found flipping through row after row of vinyl records any time he came across a shop. He loved to talk about music, but he loved sharing it more. Dan chose to lead a side career as a DJ making countless people forget their worries and dance the night away.  

Dan was also very athletic, playing many sports over the years. Zipping through the streets of Toronto on his bike, skateboarding with the boys, snowboarding, a quick game of 21, or a backflip in a cool Ontario lake... Dan could do it all.  He even designed several skateboards and t-shirts for local Toronto skate shops. He always enjoyed a good baseball game, and recently would spend time analyzing players and stats for his fantasy baseball pool. To raise funds for the 2020 Terry Fox Run, Dan completed a simulated run based on Terry’s original route. His fundraising effort was immense and he raised more money than any other team leader in the province of Quebec for the Terry Fox run that year.

Dan loved to travel and see the world. As a young adult, he took a solo trip across Europe, staying in hostels and making new friends at every stop. His later travels took him across many parts of the US (primarily to attend music festivals!), parts of South America and even Japan! COVID was especially hard for Dan as it prevented him from further travel and connecting with loved ones outside of Ontario.

Dan truly was the best friend anyone could ask for. Endlessly supportive and loving, he maintained strong connections with many of his childhood friends, regularly reaching out by text or for weekly online gaming sessions when he couldn’t connect in person. Dan would do anything for his friends. He will be sorely missed and never forgotten by everyone whose life he touched. The family would like to thank Dr. Natasha Leighl and the staff at Princess Margaret Hospital for their excellent care and support throughout Dan’s cancer journey.

Visitation will be held at the Low and Low Funeral Home, 23 Main Street South, Uxbridge (905-852-3073) on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 6:30p.m. and 7:30p.m. to schedule a time to visit with the family, please call the funeral home directly between the hours of 9a.m. and 5p.m. Due to COVID-19 rules, attendance is limited within the facility, and all attendees must adhere to wearing a mask and maintaining social distance while visiting. A Private Family Funeral will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. To attend the funeral virtually, please click this link. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Terry Fox Foundation in his honour.