(By Kevin Rigney)
Some of you know the story behind the name Raven Coffee Co. We shared it at our May 31st gathering, celebrating three years of the company.
Raven is the first son Tracy and I welcomed into the world on October 31st, 2022. He was stillborn. Five days earlier, on October 26th, we learned that his heart had stopped beating.
The founding members of Raven Coffee Co were part of the outpouring of community support that helped us heal. In early 2023, Shakya hosted a celebration of Raven’s life over Zoom with Tracy and me. Trevor was one of the first people to know, as he was my boss on the TV show we were working on. Tyler, my brother-in-law, found out soon after. I couldn’t keep this company going without their continued support and the love each of them pours into it.
When we were choosing a name for the business in May 2023, it felt right to honour Raven through a company centred on bringing people together and supporting one another.
Every Halloween, Tracy and I celebrate Raven’s birthday with a cake. We write to him and say a prayer, usually out in nature. This year feels especially meaningful: Raven would be four, our son Beau is just over two, and we’re welcoming a baby girl into our family in seven weeks.
A short prayer for Raven
Thank you, son, for showing us both the light and the darkness. Life is fragile, and nothing is certain. Even in the hardest times, there can still be light and lessons. Through my grief and healing, you helped me explore new ideas and find a path toward supporting others through storytelling, coffee, and community.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I LOVE YOU.
I can’t say it enough: thank you to everyone who supports our small business. Running a company is no small feat, and I appreciate every single one of you.
I also want to take a moment to honour Tracy’s father, Richard John Newton, who passed away at the end of August this year. I haven’t posted or sent many newsletters over the past six months as we’ve been focused on family and travelling to visit the Newtons in Creston, BC. Beau spent lots of time at Grandma and Grandpa’s this summer. It was lovely to see him grow comfortable there, roaming around the house and outside.
Thank you for reading. 🙂
We’ll be hosting another hike at the end of November and sending a separate newsletter about our Christmas gift packs. Stay tuned.
