Childhood friends honour homicide victim Lauren Jarvis in Saskatoon

On Sunday, Megan Jarvis will dress her eight-month-old daughter Evelyn in the most stylish green outfit in the infant’s closet.

She’ll buckle the bright-eyed baby girl into a stroller and walk through the streets of Saskatoon, honouring the beloved aunt her daughter never had the chance to meet.

Megan Jarvis welcomed her daughter, Evelyn, six months after her sister’s alleged murder. The family will hold a walk in honour of the aunt Evelyn never had the chance to meet on Sunday. (Submitted)

Lauren Jarvis spent the last weekend of March 2023 back in her hometown of Saskatoon, helping announce her sister Megan’s pregnancy to their entire family.

“Lauren was really exited to be an aunty for the first time,” Megan recalled with a smile.

“There were moments where I had to tell her ‘Lauren, calm down.’ For instance, she told me she needed to start looking at a new ‘aunty vehicle’ for when she would drive around with my child.”

Jarvis was sure her sister was having a girl, and sent her countless screenshots of trendy outfits she couldn’t wait to dress the baby in.

As the 27-year-old made the drive back home to Edmonton, the aspiring interior designer’s mind no doubt swirled with ideas of how she would help her sister decorate the nursery, and what special gift she would buy the baby for their very first Christmas — a time of year she was always over-the-top excited for.

Unfortunately, Jarvis never met the niece she was so excited to welcome.

One week after hugging her family goodbye and driving off, she was found dead in her basement suite.

Her upstairs neighbour, who she barely knew, was charged with second-degree murder in her death on April 2, 2023.

Lauren Jarvis spent the last weekend of March 2023 back in her hometown of Saskatoon, helping announce her sister Megan’s pregnancy to their entire family. She died just one week later. (Submitted)

In the lead up to her alleged murder, Jarvis told her friends and family that the man living upstairs, Ryan Farrell, made her uncomfortable.

“Lauren expressed major concerns to us about how she was terrified of this person,” Megan said. “We knew that she didn’t talk to him or anything — she didn’t want anything to do with him.”

Police said an autopsy determined Jarvis died of asphyxiation.

Megan said a significant amount of physical evidence was retrieved, leading to Farrell’s arrest.

The preliminary trial is set for July 22-26, 2024, in Edmonton.

The memorial walk on Sunday will honour Jarvis on what would have been her 29th birthday. (Submitted)

As her family awaits the upcoming trial, they are inviting the community to join them in a walk beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Kiwanis Memorial Park this Sunday.

The walk will honour Jarvis on what would have been her 29th birthday.

Her family is looking forward to celebrating her life and sharing fond memories of their time with the vibrant, spirited young woman.

Megan said that although her sister’s life was tragically short, she made the most of every moment.

“She put her heart and soul into anything she did,” Megan said. “She was a very passionate person. She was a huge part of our family.”

The family is holding a memorial walk in Jarvis’ hometown of Saskatoon to enable more of her childhood friends and extended family the opportunity to participate. (Submitted)

The family has held walks in Edmonton in Jarvis’ memory, raising awareness about the impact violent crimes have on victims and their families.

They are bringing the event to her hometown of Saskatoon to enable more of her childhood friends and extended family the opportunity to participate.

The family says anyone is welcome to join as they walk in Jarvis’ memory on Saturday, and they encourage participants to wear green — her favourite colour.