We lost our beautiful, loving friend Ian Reid earlier this month. The Tyee kindly invited me to share some of my thoughts about him, and that article is now live on their site.
The Tyee is a public affairs publication, and I focused on Ian’s political impact. And no question: Vancouver is a more humane city, and BC is a fairer province, because of his years of political service — promoting positive change in government, and helping to stem the reactionary tide in opposition.
Choosing one focus means, of course, leaving out many others. This piece was about Ian the public figure, but there is so much more I could have said to convey something of the sweetness of the man; his groundedness; his dry, subtle and devastating wit. Or the depth and tenderness of the love between him and his husband Paul; the warmth and easygoing pleasure of the many dinners Alex and I shared with them; his indulgence of and delight in our children’s antics… and their adoration of their uncles.
We miss you, dear man.
* * *
Many of us who knew and loved Ian will share our memories at his memorial service, at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, 6393 N.W. Marine Drive on Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. He and Paul chose the Stephen Lewis Foundation as Ian’s beneficiary of choice for memorial donations.
Ian’s full obituary, a beautiful loving tribute written by Paul, is posted here on Ian’s blog. You can also read an appreciation of Ian from Paul’s colleagues (and Ian’s friends) at NOW Communications.
