From the Football Field to the Family Legacy: How a London Son Turned Loss into Lasting Tribute

When his father fell ill, McMaster University running back Cameron Guest traded his cleats for a chisel - building Forest City Memorials to honour his dad and change how London families experience loss.
When his father fell ill, McMaster University running back Cameron Guest traded hiscleats for a chisel - building Forest City Memorials to honour his dad and change howLondon families experience loss.

When Cameron Guest was playing football at McMaster University, his life revolvedaround practices, game days, and dreams of going pro. But in August 2021, everythingchanged. His father, a hardworking family man and owner of C&L Cemetery Lettering Inc., was diagnosed with multiple forms of cancer.

"Football was always one of my top priorities," Cameron recalls. "But after seeing mydad get progressively ill, I realized my family needed me more than the game did."

Cameron stepped away from the sport and began learning the craft his father hadmastered - engraving headstones across Southwestern Ontario from a mobile unit runout of their family home. "My dad didn't think he would pass so quickly," says Cameron, "but he respected my decision. There was a strong father-son respect there. I think heknew I was stepping up for all the right reasons."

Building Something New from What He Left Behind

After a year of running the lettering business, Cameron and his mom decided to take aleap. In October 2023, they opened Forest City Memorials, a full-service monumentshop on Neptune Crescent in London. The goal was simple but ambitious: to honour hisfather's legacy by creating a space that made a difficult process easier - and moremeaningful - for families. "It's in the same industry, but it's a completely different business," Cameron explains. "We had to start from scratch - build a showroom, learn new equipment, build newrelationships with cemeteries and suppliers. But it was worth it."

Forest City Memorials quickly became known not just for its craftsmanship, but for itscompassion. "Most families don't realize they can deal directly with monument makersinstead of through the cemetery," says Cameron. "We wanted to change that - to make the experience therapeutic. We spend time with people, share stories, laugh and crywith them. It's about guiding families through one of the hardest moments of their lives."

Making Cemeteries Beautiful Again

Cameron and his small team of four pride themselves on being the only shop in London that actually produces monuments locally. Every design is crafted by hand, withpersonalization at the heart of their process. "Our mission is to make cemeteries beautiful again," says Cameron. "Through fairpricing, local production, and unique designs that reflect the life of each loved one,we're trying to bring warmth and meaning back to these spaces."

Word has spread fast - much of it through word of mouth from grateful families. "Myproudest part is hearing how positive people's experiences have been," says Cameron. "We have a small, local feel. Sometimes families just stop in for a visit or to talk. Knowing we helped them through something hard - that's what keeps us going."

Carrying His Father's Legacy Forward

For Cameron, every monument that leaves the shop is a tribute - not just to the familyit serves, but to his own. "In my eyes, my dad's legacy is carried every day through our work," he says. "What hestarted with a mobile engraving unit has become something that touches the whole community. I know he'd be proud to see the steps we've taken to build something meaningful out of what he created." From the gridiron to the granite, Cameron's story is one of grit, family, and legacy - and proof that sometimes, the strongest monuments aren't made of stone at all, but of loveand perseverance.

Media Contact
Company Name: Forest City Memorials
Contact Person: Cameron Guest
Email:Send Email [https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=from-the-football-field-to-the-family-legacy-how-a-london-son-turned-loss-into-lasting-tribute]
Phone: +1-519-636-9929
Address:316B Neptune Crescent
City: London
State: Ontario
Country: Canada
Website: https://forestcitymemorials.com/

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