MAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT WAS INSPIRATION TO DRUG USERS

He was living proof for drug addicts and alcoholics who did not know
if they could turn their lives around.

And Surrey's Aaron Sigmund wasn't ashamed to talk to homelessness
forums about his deadly struggle with drinking and drugs.

He slowly rebuilt his life when he got out of rehab in 2001. He got a
job. He became a father.

And he continued to give back to the community that helped him recover
by guiding others as they dealt with drug and alcohol addictions.

But Sigmund's life was cut short last Thursday when a hydraulic
counterweight fell on him while he was painting a company vessel at
Fraser River Pile and Dredge.

He was eight years sober and clean when he died at age 38.

"This is not the way things were supposed to happen. Eight years ago,
my parents thought he would die from an overdose. But he cleaned up,"
said Sigmund's older brother, Brad.

He said Sigmund lived for his seven-year-old son, Alijah.

"Fatherhood meant everything to him. There isn't anything he wouldn't
do for Alijah."

He said Sigmund had a knack for helping others because he could relate
to the problems they were having.

Surrey Coun. Judy Villeneuve, chairwoman of the city's homelessness
and housing task force, heard of Sigmund's death yesterday morning.

"He overcame so many difficulties in his life and he started over. I
just can't believe it has ended this way."

Villeneuve met Sigmund months after he left rehab and he soon became
the keynote speaker for a series of forums at churches.

In 2003, he won Surrey's social planning award for his work with the
task force.

"He wanted to have a better life, and he fought hard for it," said
Richard Siembida, of Launching Pad Addiction Rehabilitation Society.

"He was very charismatic and funny. He could make people laugh," he
said.

A memorial for Sigmund will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Eaglequest
Coyote Creek golf course at 7778 152 Street.