A Tribute to Beatrice

Pulling Together 2011 – Ucluelet to Port Alberni

I have known Beatrice since I had moved to the Sunshine Coast, that is almost 20 years ago.  I first met Beatrice at the Gibsons Curling Club.  She was giggly and a good sport.  I loved her ‘go with the flow’ attitude on the curling ice.  Outside from curling, I would see Beatrice from time to time in Sechelt.  She would be in Shoppers Drug Mart or on Cowrie Street waving hello, cracking a joke with a smile.  We both drifted from the sport of curling.  Life gets busy and priorities change.  We reunited at Pulling Together 2010, the Salish Sea Canoe Journey.  I was not a paddler and she was a water junkie.  I did not know that about her.  That year, Beatrice volunteered to be a part of the ground crew.  Deep down inside, she wanted to paddle.  When called up to fill a spot, she never hesitated.  I loved her enthusiasm and I appreciated her patience even more.

My last memory of Beatrice was at the June 2012 DPAC (district parent advisory council) meeting at Chatelech Secondary.  She was sitting a across from me, wearing her Pulling Together fleece, saying “hey, there’s trouble.”  We chatted and giggled a bit.  I was at the DPAC meeting as a school trustee.  I asked her why she was there.  She said that she was representing the Chatelech PAC.  That was so awesome.  Once again, something else I did not know about her.  Less than a week later, Beatrice lost her life on June 3, 2012 during a search and rescue volunteer training session.  There was an accident and 2 of 4 trainees did not survive.  A mutual friend shared the news with me the next morning.  I was in shock.  Someone who served so many, lost her life doing something she loved.

Above is a photo from the 2011 Pulling Together Canoe Journey.  It is a picture of the Sunshine Coast Canoe Family posing on a beach in Ucluelet, the first day of the Journey.  I think that this photo would bring Beatrice much joy.  In this Journey, she was a full-fledged paddler with the Dolphin Spirit.  Another thing I have learned about her since her passing was that she is a private person.  I was one of 72 of her friends on Facebook.  Truly an honour.  So, I would point her out in the photo, but I figure that would “piss her off” and she would not want me to do that.  Therefore, if you know her, you can find her in the photo.  If you don’t, no worries.  Be reassured, she is present.

Thank you Beatrice for the life-lessons you have taught me… SERVE… BE PRESENT… LIVE YOUR PASSION… PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE… and SMILE.  RIP Beatrice.  You will be missed.  Paddles up!