Daniel Kingsbury, one of the founding members of rock band Mindil Beach and founder/executive director of environmental initiative The Jellyfish Project, has died. He was 28 years old.
News of his passing started to become public Tuesday afternoon (June 2, 2015).
Kingsbury first began playing music with Mindil Beach bandmates Matt Posnikoff and Patrick Codere while they were in high school in the Sunshine Coast. After graduating, they moved to Victoria in 2007 and formed the band Victoria knew as Mindil Beach Markets. In 2012, the band created The Jellyfish Project, an educational initiative to create awareness among youth about the declining health of the world’s oceans and environment utilizing the power of music and live performance to engage students in conversation about environmental conservation.
In March of 2014, Kingsbury announced he would be leaving the band to concentrate on his work as executive director of The Jellyfish Project. As a result of the success of this project, the band partnered with the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program and participated in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project.
Days before his death Kingsbury uploaded more than 90 songs to his SoundCloud account: https://soundcloud.com/daniel-kingsbury-1
A celebration of Daniel Kingsbury’s life will be held at Roberts Creek Community Hall in Roberts Creek, BC Saturday June 6, 2015. Full details can be found at this Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/796065447128568/
Statement from The Jellyfish Project board:
It is with sorrow that we share with you that Daniel Kingsbury (DK) passed away unexpectedly on Monday June 1st, 2015; he was our soul mate, our friend and our foundation. DK was a beautiful soul, whose passion, talents, kindness and dedication to the environment inspired us all. We have needed time to absorb the news and come together as a family. Words cannot express how he will be missed. Thank you for the out-pouring of support and concern.
Among his many achievements, DK was an award-winning videographer, accomplished musician and respected environmentalist. Yet his greatest gift was his care for others and the planet; he held the entire world in his heart. Many people from all walks of life have shared their connections and memories of him with us. We invite you to continue to take time to read the tributes others have left on social media such as the Tall Tree Music Festival’s heart-felt tribute to Daniel and share some of your own treasured memories.
Always motivated to make the world and the lives of others better, DK was a warrior focused on positive actions. If you wish to honour Daniel’s life and be a part of his legacy, please connect with us. Here are some potential ways you can be involved:
1) Create: Use your talents to support the environmental movement (write a song, paint a picture) and share it with us via social media https://www.facebook.com/thejellyfishproject/, https://twitter.com/jellyfishproj
https://instagram.com/thejellyfishproject/
2) Engage: Volunteer with or donate to The Jellyfish Project http://www.thejellyfishproject.org/donate/
3) Support Young Talent: Donate to Daniel’s Music for Youth Endowment Fund https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/13296
4) Environment: Plant a tree, take a picture of you planting it and post it on social media using the hashtag ?#?treesforDaniel?
5) Share: Listen to DK’s music and share it with others, it was his final gift to the world https://soundcloud.com/daniel-kingsbury-1
One of our family members wrote this final message, reflecting on Daniel’s impact and we thought it was fitting: “Life is change. Change plus love is growth. DK you planted the seeds and it’s on us to nurture your legacy and grow alongside it”
We love you DK.
With great sadness,
The Jellyfish Project Society Board
A statement from Mindil Beach on their Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/mindilbeach/photos/a.466783760375.270096.77210720375/10153202970145376/?type=1
Good afternoon, everybody. First off, we’d like to apologize for the delay addressing this matter. It’s been the most difficult week of our lives and we just haven’t been able to find the emotional space to put together the words to honour our incredible friend.
As some of you probably know, last Monday we lost our brother and founding member of our band, Daniel Kingsbury. We cannot express how grateful we are for all the love and support we have received from our family, friends and the music community. We could not have made it through this week without you.
Daniel was an incredible human being, a prolific songwriter, and a revolutionary environmentalist. He was our friend, our brother and our confidant. DK – We love you and we’re going to miss you every day.
DK left us all with a special gift. On the day before his passing, he uploaded over 90 songs to SoundCloud for us to listen to and we encourage you all to spend some time with these. https://soundcloud.com/daniel-kingsbury-1
Take the time to tell the people around you that you love them. Be kind and empathetic to others. This world is full of twists and turns and you never know what’s around the corner. Music is the greatest gift there is and it belongs to each and every one of us. Always rock and roll. It’s what DK would want. Live your life to the fullest and don’t look back.
Here is a quote of Daniel’s that we wanted to share with you all:
“I draw an arrow of intention
from the quiver of infinite possibility
and fire it deep into the fabric of my reality.”
-Daniel Kingsbury
Below is a promo video for The Jellyfish Project originally released in July of 2013
