STORIES ABOUT ANDRE

I’ve lived such a rich, fun, rewarding life and want to thank you all for making that so. My adventures would have been nothing without you! And thank you for the wonderful outpouring of love you’ve all shown me since I announced this decision! Your support is amazing and has touched me deeply. Much

- you were a stuntman?? What an amazing life you have led Andre. Your story left a smile on my face; what an inspiration you are! A life well lived ❤️ Be at peace, Andre.

After reading all the blessing flags to Andre, I asked him to share a message to all of you. Those who were able to attend his party and those who could not.

What is a life well lived? Hard to define, but we know what one looks like. It’s mostly about memories and this picture prompts a lot of them. We’re at Ione Falls on Sandra’s great 10-day bike tour, Kootenay Kruise 2011. Andre, always reliably cheerful, is on the right, sharing a rest stop with good

I first met Andre about five years ago at one of the gatherings in our organization where he worked as a part-time IT consultant. My first impression of him was as a bright, cheerful person with a great sense of humour and incredible (true!) stories who was lighting up everything around him. Many ti

I came to know Andre back in 2010 when I started a new job. Part of my duties was the management and maintenance of all IT matters. Andre was the company’s outside IT consultant. From the very start, we established a very strong rapport. As we continued to work together, we discovered many areas o

Wildflowers are many things to many people Colourful, beautiful, and amazing are words that often are used Those little flowers can stop you in your tracks Saying “holy smoke” - I never experienced anything so wonderful. In their prime the colour and texture is flabbergasting, but there is so much m

I met Andre at a CERI Christmas party many years ago. It was at a dinner theatre near the Blackfoot Inn. Tara, my partner, and I arrived on the late side, and most of the tables were already full. We ended up sharing a table with Andre and his partner. The conversation was fantastic! It was all over

Surrounded by love, Andre was covered in the blessings of everyone who could attend his party. He had his “babe parade” hugging and kissing him, cuddling and giving him all the warmth and connection he wanted. To keep everyone light, because even at his own death, he was aware of other people’s fee

When I say that Andre and I ‘clicked’ right away, it isn’t just a play on words since our introduction was in a portrait session. We clicked personally as he clicked my picture and showed me the me that others see. We were fast friends and connected on our love of photography, storytelling, hikes, d

The best summer weekends always involve throwing on a pair of hiking boots and trudging up a mountain with Andre. Which doesn't sound appealing to everyone, I know, but there is nothing as satisfying as hiking up mountain passes and summits with someone who is in perfect harmony with you. Here is wh

Andre, you’re filled with so much love Whenever we meet you’re quick with a hug Always there when I’m in need One of my dearest friends indeed A master of tech, you are a true geek Which you shared graciously with the Light Stalkers clique You challenged our creative and technical grace With colour,

I want to wish you a safe journey Andre! thank you for your kindness and I look forward to meeting you again in whatever form you choose, perhaps a golden lab! I only wish we had more time together, you're clearly an amazing man, Mr. Universe, incredible! I will think of you often and look for you i

We met 16 years ago and soon after that, I called you for your first troubleshooting on my computer. You said, "this won't sound high tech, but try turning your computer off and then on again." It worked and that was the first of our many enjoyable, often philosophical conversations, more often abo

My husband Nick and I met Andre through my husband’s bike shop. Over the years, Andre became a friend and a great caretaker of our dogs when we went away. We got together socially on occasion and always looked forward to stories that Andre had to share. He is a great storyteller as well as a talente

An Avalanche of memories, cycling packages and maps , a few hiking notes and photos have now covered by basement floor for weeks. It has become very clear that I have been extremely fortunate to have crossed paths with you over the last 15+ years including the many Elbow Valley people you also brou

Andre, You are a kind, compassionate and talented guy. Your creativity, enthusiasm and always-smiling face has supported so many other creative folks here in Calgary and beyond. You always see the opportunity, not the problem. Thank you for all you’ve done. Brendan Rothwell. Musician, Calgary. Some

When my water broke on Saturday, my first thought was that I am going to miss Andre’s party. I knew Andre wanted to meet my child though, so I stayed home and focused on relaxing my body to let it do what it was made for. at 5:10am on the 24th, Theodosia, my daughter was breathed into the world in

So many of us have been fortunate to hear colourful accounts of Andre’s time in the northern Manitoba forests, with his trap lines and his knowledge of the denizens of the woods. We have heard of his exploits as a stuntman. We have listened as he related epic accounts of bicycle rides through the mo

Photographers spend more time behind the camera than in front, which leads to the reason for my choice in photo. I was one of many who learned the art of painting with light as a member of the Light Stalkers Photography Club. Andre was our intrepid leader who generously and patiently shared his imme

Andre and I did many collaborations for theatre photoshoots. He was always ready for the excitement of any concept I'd bring to him - crazy ideas with (sorry, Andre!) no budget :(. But he always made it work, donating so many hours, not just to me, but to the entire theatre community. You were one o

We always had something to talk about! Anything from IT, photography, bikes, or DIY home reno work, it didn’t take long for us to find a common thread and a shared experience. I wish we could do more of that. You lived your life to the fullest and the way you want it to be. I will cherish the memor

Andre constantly reminds me and everyone around him to not be afraid to be the one who loves others the most, to forgive ourselves for mistakes that we made, and, most importantly, to never miss an adventure when one presents itself. I learned so much from you. You are an amazing man, Andre. Yo

Andre, in about a decade of volunteering together, with approximately a million photos taken between the two of us in each other's presence, the irony is not lost on me that our only real picture together had to be snuck in over these last months. I guess it's a fact that being so good behind the ca

The first thing I noticed about Andre when I met him many many years ago is his big smile. It didn’t take long to discover that his smile matched his personality. And it’s that personality that I would like to celebrate today. His kind and empathetic nature, his inquisitiveness, sense of adventure,