Joshua Qiyuk, a 21-year-old graduate of Algonquin College, was found stabbed to death early Wednesday in Ottawa’s east end. His death has left his co-workers and friends in shock. Qiyuk worked for over two years in the kitchen of Absinthe, a French bistro-style restaurant in Hintonburg. Patrick Garland, the restaurant's owner and a veteran chef, expressed his devastation over the loss. "He was a great kid. He was like a son to me," Garland said. "I just can’t understand it. I can’t get my head around it. It’s just so horrible." Garland described Qiyuk as the most decent person he had ever met. "He was a total sweetheart of a kid and later on a man. You couldn’t ask for somebody that was more pleasant to be around, more engaged, more honest. He was such a joy to be with," he said. Qiyuk was known for his dedication to his work. "He loved his work, he was just so happy," Garland added. He emphasized that Qiyuk led a clean lifestyle, stating, "I want it to be known that he didn’t do dope and he didn’t drink. He wasn’t a statistic. He was a clean-living, honest, honourable person." Garland noted that Qiyuk took pride in his responsibilities at Absinthe, where he was continually improving his cooking skills. "He was getting better as a cook every day. He was really intuitive. You show him something once and he got it locked and loaded," Garland said. Qiyuk was also known for his punctuality. "Nothing could keep him from coming to work. If there was any chance of him being late at all, he would text. I think he was late once by a couple of minutes," Garland recalled. On the day of his death, Qiyuk did not show up for work, which was unusual. Garland became concerned as time passed. He was out shopping when he heard a report about a suspicious death involving a 21-year-old man. When he returned to Absinthe, he found two detectives from the Ottawa Police Service there. "It’s really gutted everybody at the restaurant. We were so close to him," Garland said. In response to the tragedy, Absinthe closed for the day and will remain closed until next Tuesday to allow staff to grieve. C’est Bon Cooking, a culinary business where Qiyuk had worked as a kitchen helper before attending Algonquin, also paid tribute to him. They described him as a "sweet and bright Inuk man from Baker Lake" in Nunavut. A post on their Facebook page expressed their shock and sadness, stating, "He lit up a room with his smile and genuine way. Josh was building a great life in this community and was no doubt a shining light and role model for his Inuit community." Georges Laurier, co-owner of C’est Bon, remembered Qiyuk as a dedicated worker who was eager to learn. "This person bloomed, he was growing and shining," Laurier said. He recalled how Qiyuk would walk home from work, even when offered a ride, saying, "I like walking because it’s good exercise. It gets my mind off things." Qiyuk lived in Vanier with his mother. His family has requested privacy during this difficult time. C’est Bon announced it would make a donation to support Qiyuk’s family and welcomed personal donations from others. Qiyuk’s body was discovered in the 400 block of Meadow Park Place, near the Beechwood Cemetery and Aviation Parkway. The Ottawa Police Service is investigating the case and encourages anyone with information to come forward. This incident marks the third fatal stabbing in the east-end area this year. In February, Omar Jonathan Grant, 25, was killed on St-Laurent Boulevard, and in early October, Justin James Weir, 55, died from stab wounds after being found on the same street.