For Gord.

I met Gord Downie about four years ago. He and his brother, Mike treated me to coffee near my studio in Leslieville and they told me about Chanie Wenjack.

I had never heard of Chanie Wenjack. Chances are neither had you. I was immediately moved by Gord's warmth, passion and humour. We started working together immediately.

He would visit every couple weeks and I would show him my drawings. We would laugh and talk and somewhere in there, there was even a 400km snowmobile ride in arctic temperatures, a hockey game in a hotel room in Timmins, and because of him I finally got to fulfill my teenaged dream of joining a rock band, even though I can't play any instruments.

He had a way about him that made it feel like we'd known each other for years. I miss him now and I will always miss him.

We became friends. More than friends...we  created  something together. And art never dies.

I love you, Gord. You changed my life and made me a better man and a better artist. I will see you again...

xo J