Messages for Pierre
Paula shared a story about Pierre and the sense of community that has shown beauty and compassion through these extremely difficult times.
As we’ve all been reflecting on moments in time shared with Pierre – the husband, father, son, brother and friend – we created this page to encourage everyone to provide their own stories about Pierre, as a way of letting him know we’re thinking of him, where ever he may be.
October 11, 2011 at 6:01 PM
Somewhere in the ether, somewhere in this universe, I hope you feel the love that I am sending you. I love you and miss you and carry you with me every waking day and night.
October 15, 2011 at 3:30 AM
“I am alive like you, and I am standing beside you. Close your eyes and look around, you will see me in front of you.” -Khalil Gibran
Be well, Paula
October 24, 2011 at 4:26 PM
<3
August 18, 2010 at 9:58 PM
What happened to you Pierre? I often remember little things about you, a little chat or an act, even after few years. How a person like you, full of zest for life, passionate and enthusiastic can go missing? It makes me sad anytime I think about it! After all, what is life about if not like dancing in the rain in a storm? When are you coming back?
March 12, 2010 at 5:34 AM
Though I don’t know Pierre myself, my husband and I know his father. And I know what he and his family go through at this moment.
We lost our daughter Ellen at the age of 39.
I just read his birthday was on March 1.
Wherever you are…happy birthday Pierre. You are missed so much.
My heart cries for Paula,Fred,Arlette,Chris,Claire and all the others.
Love, Fredy (Holland)
March 3, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Happy Birthday, kiddo. I’ve been thinking of you often and especially on Monday, your 42nd birthday. I remember the excitement when you were born as it was a leap year and you could have been born on February 29th! You’ve always been a special part of our family and will remain in our hearts forever.
Love, Sandy
March 1, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Happy 42nd Pierre. Today was a tough day and as many gathered to remember and say goodbye to Mrs. Toledo, you were in our thoughts as well.
My heart goes out to Paula, Arlette, Fred, Chris, Claire and all your family and close friends who are missing you so dearly. You are loved so much.
March 1, 2010 at 8:49 AM
A difficult day. Pierre’s Birthday. Wish you were here,Pierre,to celebrate.
with Love,
Shirley
February 9, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I do not know Pierre however, my wife and I know his parents. If Pierre is anythink like his mother and father we are truly blessed. Danielle and I will keep Pierre and his family in our prayers.
January 4, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Pierre is our youngest cousin. I was present with my family at his baptism, and as I have the honour of being his godmother, I had the privelege of standing with Tante Arlette and Uncle Fred, and holding Pierre at one point during the ceremony.
Over the years, our families shared Christmas festivities, and I remember so clearly Pierre’s wonder at the Christmas tree and lights and all the goings on of the festive season when he was a toddler. Years later, when I lived in Montreal, I felt like Pierre, Claire and Christophe were more like brothers and sister than cousins, as I was welcomed into their home almost every week end. There were some great excursions – to the cottage on Big Rideau, including stops at the Perth Fair and eating too many cheese curds and getting woozy on the rides. Going to the Raptor sanctuary, and Pierre finding some super big burrs that stuck very nicely to out clothing when he threw them at us. Cross country skiing and sugaring off festivals. I remember that Pierre liked Sesame Snaps when he was little, and I made a point of bringing him a package or two every time I came to visit.
Pierre, I miss you so much. Every day I hope and pray that you will return to us.
all my love,
Shirley
December 27, 2009 at 6:58 PM
I remember seeing Pierre at a Pivotal Christmas party. He was being pretty cool, just cheerful as he always is, chatting with people. Near the end of the party the DJ played AC/DC’s ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ and he grabbed someone, a friend, and dragged him onto the dance floor and went pretty nuts, along with all of us.
It made me smile then as much as it does now.
Thinking of you constantly from the other ocean, propelled by pantaloons for sails but sailing nonetheless. xo
December 25, 2009 at 4:35 AM
Pierre,
I wanted to let you know that I have been thinking about you and your family and that we pray for all of you. We often don’t take the time to let friends know how much we appreciate them and I wanted to let you know. You are a good friend and coworker. I also wanted to let you know that Hai and Leonid miss you as well. Safe returns my friend.
Merry Christmas.
December 24, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Merry Christmas Pierre…. you don’t know me but I look for you, for your family. They love you so much, it has touched me deeply. Please come home to them. That is my wish for Christmas.
December 23, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Dear Pierre, as Christmas approaches, so many wonderful memories surface. One of the strongest memories I have of you at Christmas was one year (long ago!) when you were only about one and a half years old. It was one of the Christmases when your family were out to join us for the holidays in our big old two-story duplex in Seebe.
Christmas was wonderful, as always, but the memory comes from Boxing Day. Your mom and dad got us going a few years earlier on cheese fondues, and it quickly became a Boxing Day tradition. So we were having the fondue, and there were so many people, 20 or so, that we had two fondues going, one in the kitchen, and one in the dining room. As often happens during good times like that, a rivalry developed between the two fondue groups, over the wine! It was being stored in the front and back porches (no room in the fridge)and inevitably, people started sneaking around outside to steal wine from the other group!
Now YOU were not into the wine yet, but you WERE (as you always have been!) into the FUN. So there you were, right in the middle of things, but NO ONE COULD SEE YOU because you were so small, and you ended up getting trampled in one of the tussles in the front porch! Disaster! Tears from Pierre! Abject apologies from the current contenders (Freeman Patterson and Bill Sampson) but of course all resolved quickly, ’cause little ones get over things pretty fast, and you forgot quickly about the small contretemps, and got very quickly back into the FUN!
We still have a Boxing Day fondue every year (it’s Greg’s birthday, and he had to give in to the Smith/Parkinson tradition!) You will be so much in our thoughts this year, and we’ll be wishing you were with us to share in the fun once again. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we’re battling over the wine, with you in the middle! We love you, and are sending all our thoughts and prayers to you, and to Paula and the boys. Come home safe.
Love, Marjory
December 11, 2009 at 5:47 PM
To my brother-in-law Pierre, the brother I never had.
Pierre, from the time we met in Timberley, I always admired you and looked up to you like a brother. You are intelligent, funny, and loving. You always go out of your way to help people. You do anything for your family (Mom, Dad, Tony and especially Po).
Pierre, you are the life of our family gatherings. Pierre, I noticed the things you would do; Sit and talk with Mom making her feel special; mingle with us talking about anything from technology, to nature or sports; running out to the store to pick up bread or milk when it was missing (before anyone noticed); helping Marianne in the kitchen preparing food or cleaning up; getting down on your knees and literally playing your heart out with the kids – no matter how much they asked for more. Pierre, I noticed the selfless love you had for people around you. Watching you is inspiring.
Pierre, my kids have a fond love for you. They look up to you as their crazy, fun, loving uncle. They talk about you daily. They also pray daily that God will wrap his warm hands around you and lovingly guide you home from wherever you are.
Pierre, I have the outmost love and respect for you Pierre. You are in my thoughts every minute of every day. Every struggle I encounter, no matter the size, I think of you and push to resolve it in your honour.
Pierre, I love you. I miss you. I can’t wait until the day I see you again, until the day you give me one of your huge hugs; I will hold you for a long time.
Pierre, it is unbelievably obvious how you loved and touched so many of us. Pierre, please, come home so for once, we can return the love you had for all of us.
We miss you dearly.
Love Eric (your brother forever)
December 8, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Pierre –
You are desperately missed by so many. I think about you, Paula, your boys, your parents and the rest of your immediate family and extended family several times a day – how much everyone so badly wants to have you home safe and sound, no matter what. You’ve always had such an exhuberant energy and lived life to the max, which I have admired in you from the day Paula and I met you at the Blue Rodeo concert! Just know you are loved by many, unconditionally.
December 8, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Pierre – John and I (Margie) have you in our thoughts every day. We wonder where you are and how you are and hope you are safe. We have known you for more than thirty years and we would like to remain friends with you for another thirty. Whatever you are going through and wherever you are, know that you have friends that accept you unconditionally and who will help you find your way home.
From the Mankers
December 8, 2009 at 2:45 PM
What a guy …
I have shared many moments with Pierre mainly sailing or having beers with sailor friends. He made my stay in Vancouver so much nicer with his sense of humour and all the hours in the water we spent together. I am thinking of you my friend wherever you are and I really hope you come home safe.
You taught me a lot about life and about sailing. All my memories of you find you smiling with something funny and smart to say. I see in you an example of a great man, a great sailor and an ever greater friend.
Miss you.
Sandro
December 2, 2009 at 6:47 AM
Pierre and I shared a love of birds and birding (as well as sailing and technology). Our periodic emails were full of wonder about birds, tips on where the little guys were doing cool stuff, what birdwatching event was happening, etc. Pierre could almost get into the mind of a bird.
He always impressed me with his absolute ability to be in the present, in the moment. What a guy ! I cannot accept easily, maybe not at all, that we won’t see him again….
December 2, 2009 at 12:26 AM
Pierre showed me Saturn and I’ve never looked at it the same.
We built software together and he has taught me so much over the years, even now, even today, I am still learning from him.
To my friend, my buddy.