For anyone other than the man himself reading this I will set the stage. Our first meeting was in the fall of 1998. I was an employee of Construction Labour Relations and Andre was our contracted “computer guy” who, I was told, could fix anything. As it turned out, this was true. So our relationship was a working one. It follows with Andre that the work relationship became a colleague relationship which became one of friends.
Usually once a year we played hooky on a golf course along with two others who shall remain nameless. Andre and I were a team against the other two. This was not a casual thing. This was a competition. Not for something as trivial as money. This was for bragging rights. For at least 10 years Andre and I got our collective asses kicked every time. Andre is very bad at golfing and I at my best am only as good as Andre. We had a particular knack of ensuring if one of had a good hole the other would have a horrible one. I have wonderful memories of searching for balls in the rough or the deep woods with Andre and all the while an upbeat attitude and lots and lots of humour.
When we are on Denman Island and I drive by the Guesthouse and Bistro I recall your assessment of the place on one of your west coast cycle trips as matching my own and I smile. It has not changed.
As fine a man at the tech stuff that I knew, I recall the cyclist, the back country hiker and the photographer. Nothing was halfway and it seemed to be contagious.
More recently you have shown an amazing strength and ability to analyze, consider and determine the right pathway for you to take control and go forward. It is nothing short of an inspiration to me.
Thank you for enumerable times that you helped my kids, my wife Doreen and me with our home computer stuff just because you wanted to. You helped my mom who was 90 get set up and using the internet and email which had a very positive impact on her later life.
I am grateful that our paths in life have crossed and privileged to have known you as I have.
Take care my friend, much love - Doug and best wishes from Doreen
