Tori Stafford came into the world on July 15, 2000, born to Rodney Stafford and Tara McDonald in Woodstock, Ontario. She was the youngest of two, with an older brother named Daryn who’d become her closest ally. But life wasn’t picture-perfect—her parents split when she was just two, leaving Tori and Daryn with their mom and, later, her new partner, James Goris. Rodney mostly faded from the scene, though he’d pop back into the story later. Tori herself was a spark of light—bubbly, caring, and a little wild. Picture a girl who’d twirl in a dress one minute and climb trees the next. She loved dancing, cracking jokes, and dragging her feet on school mornings—unless it was Sunday, when she’d leap up for church with her grandma. That feisty spirit made her unforgettable, especially to Daryn, her shadow and best friend. Together, they’d trek to Oliver Stephens Public School every day—until one afternoon changed everything.