Obituary of Steven Neil Aiken

Remembering Steven Neil Aiken August 31, 1970 – January 8, 2026 On January 8, 2026, our world got a little quieter when Steven Neil Aiken, 55, of Sandy Lake, Alberta, passed away from heart attack complications. Born in Cowansville, Quebec, on August 31, 1970, Steven always felt a special bond with his mom, as they were "birthday twins"—a detail he truly cherished. Steven grew up in Montreal surrounded by a big, loving family. He was the kind of person who could do just about anything; whether he was fixing a car, helping with plumbing, or building something beautiful out of wood, he was an exceptionally bright "jack of all trades". He learned his love for woodworking from his grandfather, Pearley Aiken, and that passion stayed with him his whole life. If you knew Steven, you knew how much he loved nature and animals. He found so much peace in his fish tanks and his dogs. In his very last months, he showed his huge heart by nursing seven tiny puppies from the time they were only five days old. His "fur babies"—Dozer, Zoey, Reaper, Bear, Chloe, and Lady J—will deeply miss their Papa. While Steven faced some very hard roads with his mental health, he was a warrior. He spent years in therapy working to beat his "demons," and those who loved him are so proud to say he was winning that battle. Through it all, his children were his light. He always said that being a Dad was the "coolest thing he ever did," and he loved them with every single fiber of his being. Just this past August, Steven finally reached a long-held dream: moving to his very own acreage. Though his time there was far too short, that property brought him a sense of peace and pride that filled his soul. He wanted it to be a place where his family could gather and feel at home for generations to come. Steven has gone to join his beloved mother, Norma Nichols; his father, Barry Aiken; his Aunt Gail Nichols; and his Uncles Rod and Stan Aiken. He leaves behind his loving partner, Annie Haley; his children Julian, Austin (Mikayla), Jace, Maddie, and Gabe Aiken; his step-children Brady and Ryan Haley, Kyle and Zach Hanson; and his grandson, Isaac Hanson. He will also be missed by his brother, Andreas Aivaliotis; his Aunts Barb, Val, Marilyn, Velma, and Isabel; neices, nephews and cousins. Instead of a formal service, we will be celebrating Steven’s life just the way he wanted—surrounded by family and friends. In the spring, his ashes will be buried with a Japanese Maple tree on his dream property, so he can continue to grow alongside the land he loved. For those who wish to honor him, donations can be made to Multiplied by One multipliedbyone.org or the St. Paul Animal Shelter (stpaulanimalshelter.org)