Saturday, April 10, 2021
I am so grateful to hear your reflections Marlyn. Richard’s relationships with you, Malcolm, and Dom, along with his admiration, respect for, and relationship with Peter Park and Pat Worth, provided a foundation of respect and belief in Richard, that made it possible for him to truly make a difference. He made a difference in the lives of individual people, many whose voices and ways of speaking would never have been heard, and for a much wider swath of people in Ontario, and across Canada, who desired and deserved to simply be treated as fellow citizens, neighbours, friends, and colleagues.
I know how important Richard’s relationships in Windsor have always been. They grounded him in what needed to be different, and in what was possible. I know that people like Michelle Friesen and the Family Support network, saw Richard as compadre, an ally and friend who could and would listen, and be able to articulate what was important in the lives of the sons and daughters who they love, and carry these voices into community conversations with self advocates across the province, and into the policy places he would find his way into. I know that Richard’s experience and passion were recognized by Malcolm as essential to Community Living Windsor’s future, and that Xavier carried this forward in his years as leader.
I was truly blessed to walk alongside Richard through his years as President of People First of Ontario. I was in awe of his wisdom and passion. I watched first hand his deep respect for the wisdom of the elders in the movement, his relationship with Peter Park in particular was filled with love and respect. He would turn to Peter for wise guidance, and Peter recognized the future in Richard. I watched Richard carry on this role as mentor to his friends in People First of Windsor, and in his guidance and support of the rising leadership Barb Folk, and Rose Barko. In this experience with Richard, and the wider People First movement I witnessed that how exclusion means that the mainstream culture is missing out on the gifts of people that are excluded. I experienced how Marg McLean as Provincial Advisor, knew the importance of Richard’s gut level passion and compassion for mobilizing people.
Richard’s personal commitment to wade through the hard parts, in search of what is desired and rightly deserved, leaves me with the feeling that his was a life well lived, imperfect and whole in its imperfection. I always felt respected by Richard, and I in turn always felt respect for him. I loved my opportunity to work with him, and it remains a significant part of forming who I am and how I see the world.
My heart goes to all who are experiencing Richard’s passing all too soon.
Peace.
Dave Hasbury
