A 19-year-old man in Sault Ste. Marie received a six-year prison sentence this week, along with a 10-year driving ban, for an impaired driving collision last year that killed 15-year-old Connor Dunn. Greg Parise was behind the wheel April 20, 2025, when the truck he was driving struck a pair of 15-year-olds. The collision killed Dunn, a local athlete who’s been the subject of significant support from the community. Justice Sandra Caponecchia referred to Parise’s Indigenous upbringing and intergenerational trauma, in addition to his youth, as well as the profound impact on the Dunn family, as factors in her decision. Victim’s family issues statement After Monday’s sentence, the Dunn family said nothing “can bring Connor home.” “For his family, the pain of losing Connor is simply unimaginable. There are no words that can adequately describe what they have endured, or what they will continue to endure every single day,” the statement said. “Connor was just 15 years old, full of life, kindness and heart. He led with compassion, lived with passion and brought an extraordinary energy to everyone around him. He was outgoing, generous, and always made people feel welcome. Connor never wanted anyone to feel left out. He brought people together and made them feel they belonged.” More than anything, the statement said that “Connor’s family wants him to be remembered for how he lived. For his kindness, his generosity, his laughter, and the way he made others feel loved, valued and included.” “His life was far too short, but the love and joy he brought into this world, and the impact he had on those around him, will never be forgotten,” the family said. “On behalf of the Dunn family, we thank the community for its extraordinary compassion and support and respectfully ask that the family’s privacy continue to be honoured.”
