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“She was my favourite person and she was so special to so many other people because she genuinely cared about everyone, and that sincerity came through so brightly in all her interactions with people,” said her older sister Erica Shiner.

The bar owner’s death was announced on her Instagram page in a post by Erica, who shared that a celebration of Shiner’s life will be organized in the coming weeks. Shiner used this account to document her cancer battle, with her latest update two weeks ago. 

“I’m not scared — I’m sure I’ll be scared while I’m dying, in the last moments. But I don’t want to think about them. God, that’s the last thing I want to think about,” Shiner said in her last Instagram post, with a breathing tube secured to her nose. “What’s the big deal guys, I’m still here right now and it’s still nice.” 

Those who knew Shiner describe her as a selfless person who was caring, resilient, encouraging, clever, extremely fun and had a positive aura and infectious smile that people were drawn to. 

“Abra was a walking kaleidoscope — not just because of her bright outfits and hair but because she had so many interesting facets,” Erica said. “She was so full of cool ideas and constant creativity and she was a doer, not just a dreamer.

“I think she traveled to nearly 50 countries. She had seen death in her life and she understood that she needed to always make the most of her time and enjoy and experience the world as much as she possibly could.”

Shiner “poured herself into Swan Dive, creating a reflection of the inside of her head and invited everyone into it to celebrate existence,” said her younger sister Sophia. “My sister had a full and beautiful life and was happy with how she lived it.” 

Even before opening Swan Dive in 2016, which she co-owned with her husband, Mike Ojala, Shiner was an established fixture of the Queen West scene for decades. As a teen, she would frequent the FreakShow music venue and was well-known for being barefoot. 

She also worked as a bartender at Sneaky Dee’s and The Big Bop (the defunct club and all-age live music venue at Queen and Bathurst). 

After years of booming business, Swan Dive suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as things started to return to normal, Shiner was hit with another challenge when she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2022 and told she would live for another five to 10 years. 

As Shiner underwent treatment and multiple surgeries, things took another turn when she and Ojala received an eviction notice to move out of their apartment at Queen and Dovercourt where she had lived for 23 years. Shiner posted a , imploring her landlord to withdraw the notice, and over 33,000 supporters signed it. 

“The chances of finding a home within my restricted budget are very low (due to the amount of time I spend dealing with my cancer I cannot work very much),” Shiner wrote in the petition. “The stress that this is causing me is having an extremely negative impact on my health and could very well impact my chances at a few more good years of life.

“I only ask that my life is valued more than a few thousand dollars.” 

In a , Shiner told TV personality and journalist Nam Kiwanuka that she’d been fighting the eviction since 2022. Shiner and Ojala moved from their beloved apartment six months ago. 

Despite her circumstances, Shiner amplified her community building, hosted fundraisers at Swan Dive and did “everything she could to keep giving,” Erica said. 

“Abra was a light in the dark for so many people who needed to feel like their existence mattered in this world,” said Shiner’s best friend Simon Downey. 

Chris Mysterion knew Shiner for over 25 years, first meeting the girl who he said looked “cool” on the subway. They became friends and would often spend time at Kensington Market.

“We know cancer stopped her as a human being, but nothing broke her will. Nothing broke her spirit. Nothing broke her positivity,” said Mysterion.

Mysterion will never forget one of the last times he saw Shiner, at a gathering at her home this year where they had a laugh, “just having fun and enjoying life” — something he says Shiner “would want us to continue doing.”

“Abra’s love of community was such that everyone was her family,” said friend Lizz de Savoye. “We’ve all lost a sister, that is how deeply she has impacted this world. Every person she has met was an instant friend and instant family. So the loss is felt even more so.”

A set up in April originally to support Shiner and help create a garden at her new home, has received thousands of dollars in donations but continues to receive more since her death, to support her husband who now runs Swan Dive on his own. 

“A huge chapter has been turned in the scene in the west end because of this. She was integral with so many people and so many different walks of life and in every genre. it’s just unbelievable how many people she’s impacted,” Mysterion said.