A Yukoner who was living in Alberta and expecting his first child in May died early Saturday morning after falling 16 storeys.

Shawn Sweeney, 25, was trying to get over to a friend's apartment by climbing from the next-door balcony, when he slipped and fell. The two balconies are separated by a wall.

Friends said he had knocked on the apartment door he was trying to get into. When no one answered, he went to the neighbour's home and asked to climb across the balcony.

Police have said the death was accidental and have deemed it non-criminal, which falls under the sole responsibility of the Alberta Medical Examiner.

Speaking to the Star this morning, his mother, Patricia Haight, remembered her son as a friendly, loving person who liked to joke around and was 'a friend to anybody.

'He just wanted to please everybody,' she said from Edmonton.

Sweeney's father, Jim, is also in Alberta helping with arrangements.

Sweeney was an oil field worker in Alberta. He was especially excited about the upcoming birth of his first child with his partner, Nicole Phillips.

The born-and-raised Yukoner had been in Alberta for two years, living in Hinton for the majority of his time there, then moving to Edmonton a couple of months ago.

'Shawn was a very well-liked person,' Haight said, noting his extensive groups of friends in the Yukon and Alberta.

Haight and her son were extremely close, she said, recalling his phone calls every second or third day just to check in and say hi.

'I'm just going to miss his phone calls,' she said.

Sweeney had no siblings, but has other extended family in the territory.

A memorial service is being planned for 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre.

The Canadian Press contributed to this story.