Braydon Bretzer Memorial Award
On the evening of May 25, 2025, Braydon Bretzer and a friend were tragically swept away in the ocean in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
Braydon Bretzer, a graduate of St. Joseph High School’s Class of 2011, was a dedicated athlete, enthusiastic teammate, and compassionate leader. Born on May 1, 1993, in Saskatoon to Darryl and Colleen Bretzer, he was energetic and full of life from a young age, with a deep love for sports—especially soccer. He competed at a high level, earning spots on provincial teams and competing at Nationals, while also enjoying basketball, golf, and virtually any sport he could play or watch.
After high school, Braydon attended Lakeland College on a soccer scholarship, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and formed lasting friendships. During his time there, he also dedicated himself to coaching youth soccer teams, college teams, and scouting for the college. He was deeply involved with the Lloydminster soccer community, volunteering in many capacities.
Following his studies, Braydon pursued his love of travel, visiting 29 countries and spending 10 months backpacking through Southeast Asia before exploring Europe, Central and South America, and eventually Mexico. Along the way, he built lasting friendships with people from around the world.
His travels also sparked a passion for photography and videography, leading to a successful career in marketing where he combined creativity and storytelling to capture meaningful moments and experiences.
Impact
Braydon was known for his kindness and inclusivity, always making others feel valued and part of the team. He cherished time with friends—from river floats and camping trips to golf tournaments—and had a lifelong love for animals, especially cats.
Braydon was truly full of life, with a beautiful, contagious smile and a warm, caring heart. He formed meaningful connections with everyone he crossed paths with, many of whom blossomed into lasting friendships. He had a natural awareness of others, always noticing when someone was being left out and making every effort to include them and ensure they felt they belonged. His genuine love for animals and children was unmistakable.
In honour of Braydon, his family set up this award to support student athletes at Lakeland College with that same mindset.