SOLUTIONS
Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy could save the world as much as $12 trillion by 2050 (Joule, Sept. 2022). The Institute for New Economic Thinking advises full speed ahead with green energy transition, citing the falling cost of solar and wind, and increasing costs of fossil fuels.
Wind and solar farms with battery backup are cheaper to build than natural gas power plants in Ontario and Alberta. The price of these renewables is expected to fall 40 per cent by 2035 (Clean Energy Canada).
In 2021, 88 per cent of the world’s new power capacity was wind and solar, while hydropower has the largest global total renewable generation capacity (IRENA).
The Netherlands’ national football stadium is 100 per cent solar powered. It is Europe’s largest commercial energy storage system using EV batteries (148 repurposed car batteries).
Reborn Electric Motor transforms 200 diesel buses in Chile to electric each year, estimating 70,000 fewer tons of carbon reach the atmosphere.
A riverside photovoltaic power plant in China combines solar with tidal – moon gravity generating tides after sunset. Using drones and AI systems for maintenance, this plant generates over 100 million kWh annually. China’s National Energy Administration reports its total renewable energy capacity exceeds 1,200GW. China banned coal-based mining in Inner Mongolia.
South Korea’s bike lanes are covered with solar panels, protecting cyclists from sun while producing clean energy.
In 2006, 100 per cent of Southern Australia’s energy was from fossil fuels. Government initiatives led it to become one of the world’s greenest energy grids, fast-tracking wind farms and putting solar panels on 40 per cent of homes. Closing their largest coal-fired power station, they funded a solar-powered greenhouse employing 220 people, and built the world’s largest grid-scale battery storage. By 2020, South Australia obtained 60 per cent of its energy from renewables.
A school in Switzerland, made from sustainable materials and running entirely on solar, produces enough energy to power itself and 50 surrounding homes.
The Scottish island, Yell, uses tidal power to charge electric vehicles. The underwater turbines (Shetland Tidal Array) have been powering Shetland homes for five years. Scotland has banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
The plan to cover U.S. supermarket roofs with solar panels could power eight million homes, saving 51 million tonnes of C02 annually.
The world’s first 100 per cent wind-powered trains in the Netherlands provide over 600,000 passengers carbon free travel (5,500 trips) daily.
Dutch renewable architecture specialist Ibis Power developed a rooftop system combining solar and wind turbines for medium-sized and high-rise buildings (PowerNEST), producing six to 10 times more energy than solar alone.
Solar panels in Kenya placed above crops create low-cost electricity and shield crops from heat stress and water loss, boosting yields and collecting rainwater. Agrivoltaic farms generate low-cost renewable electricity while sacrificing no arable land.
The Canadian Climate Institute said three of the five government climate policies required to meet Canada’s 2030 emissions targets could be finalized in 2023. Their independent analysis of Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan finds the plan credible, establishing Canada’s path toward 2026 (and 2030 and 2050) emission-reduction targets. The cap on oil and gas emissions is anticipated to make a 33-megatonne reduction by 2030 (18 per cent of the reduction needed to meet target).
By 2026, 20 per cent of passenger vehicles sold in Canada must be electric (60 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050).
In Ecuador there is a move to establish a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that, “for the world’s collective good,” would provide financial support to countries and relieve them from imposed fossil fuel extraction. This treaty recognizes the international responsibility for controlling fossil fuel harms.
From oil to renewable energies
Kolomeijka to support arts in Ukraine
Dance Happens Here Haliburton (DH3) is reintroducing the public to traditional Ukrainian dance, culture, and food Feb. 25, bringing the popular Kolomeijka celebration back to the Highlands after a six-year hiatus.
Taking place at the Haliburton Legion, the event will double as a fundraiser this year with all proceeds to support the arts in wartorn Ukraine. Organizer, Jim Blake, said it would be an evening of fun and reflection for those in attendance.
“We had over 100 people out for our first event in 2017, and it was incredible – the dance floor was full, everyone had smiles on their faces, and there was a real appreciation for Ukrainian culture,” Blake said. “We did a poll of the people that came out last time, and about a third of them had Ukrainian ancestry, so there’s a strong presence in the Highlands.”
The Russian invasion of the eastern European nation has hit many in the community hard, which was a big reason for bringing the celebration back, according to Blake.
“It’s pretty shocking what’s been happening over there – people in the Ukraine are dealing with some very serious issues right now, and they require assistance from people in so many different ways,” he said. “We’re viewing this event as an opportunity to get together again and have a big celebration post-pandemic, while also raising some money to send to folks who really need it.”
Jenn and Paul Doroniuk of the Winnipegbased Verba Ukrainian Dance Company are returning for the event. Explaining the origins of Kolomeijka, Blake said it started out as a traditional music genre in the Ukraine but was adopted as a social event by Ukrainian immigrants in western Canada in the 1950s and 1960s.
“It is a dance… it begins with participants forming a circle and then moving, usually counter clockwise, then clockwise, or by forming a spiral. As the dance progresses, individual or small groups of dancers go into the middle of the circle and perform their favourite dance ‘tricks’ involving lifts, spins and high kicks,” he said. “It’s considered to be the highlight of Ukrainian weddings and dances.”
Vincent Rees is helping on the fundraising side through his non-profit Cobblestone Freeway Foundation (CFF). Initially launched in 2020 to assist people who were out of work due to COVID-19, CFF pivoted last year to assist people affected by the Russian invasion.
Blake hasn’t set a fundraising target but noted 100 per cent of the proceeds from ticket sales would be diverted overseas, with CFF having identified a Ukrainian dance troupe requiring support.
“Because of the war, many of these arts and dance organizations haven’t been able to do much. Their government funding has diminished quite a bit, but they still want to continue performing. Even though they’re going to war, people still need to celebrate,” Blake said.
Doors open at the Legion at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students, with youth under 18 free. For more information, visit dancehappenshere.com.
‘One-of-a-kind experience’ for local Husky
Haliburton’s Graeme Armstrong had his hockey dreams come true earlier this month, taking to the ice with his hometown Huskies to make his OJHL debut.
The 16-year-old played a key role in the team’s 10-4 victory over the visiting Caledon Admirals at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Feb. 4. He saw big minutes, particularly in the first and third periods, lining up on the right side of the Huskies’ defence, and even helped himself to his first point – a secondary assist on the team’s fourth goal, scored by Ty Collins.
Speaking to The Highlander, Armstrong recounts his experience from game day and the 48 hours leading up to it.
“I was down in Peterborough when I got the call from coach Ryan [Ramsay]. He had a few guys out nursing injuries and wanted to give them a bit of a break… I attended a players’ camp with the Huskies in the summer and am registered as an affiliate player. Still, it was a massive surprise,” Armstrong said.
The youngster has spent this season playing AAA with the Central Ontario Wolves’ U16 outfit, putting up 16 points in 36 games.
He got to the rink early, around three hours before puck drop, where he was greeted by Ramsay and assistant Jordan Bailey. The pair explained how and where they saw Armstrong fitting into the lineup, prepping him on the Huskies’ systems. The rest of the team took the blueliner under their wing, including him in their usual pre-game routines.
He was first out onto the ice for warm-ups, where he completed a ‘rookie lap’ in front of his cheering family and friends. That helped to settle the nerves, though Armstrong said he felt his heart skip a beat when Ramsay gave him the nod to jump the boards for his first shift early in the opening period.
“He just said ‘welcome to junior hockey’, told me to play my game, try not to be nervous and to do everything hard. He said I was there on merit and to go out onto the ice and show everyone what I can do,” Armstrong said. “It was a bit overwhelming, but I took a hit against the boards almost right away, and that helped me to dial in.”
He was on the ice for four Huskies goals in the first frame. Back in the locker room between periods, he was handed a puck noting the date and opponent, in honour of his first OJHL point.
With the result secure in the third, Ramsay started rolling Armstrong out every other shift, leaving him on the ice for the final two minutes of play.
“It almost felt like a one-of-a-kind experience. Not many kids my age can say they’ve been able to play Jr. A hockey, especially for their hometown team,” he said.
“I remember being in the stands last season and thinking ‘wouldn’t it be cool to make it out onto the ice, even just for one game’. Now I’ve had that first taste, I want more.”
Armstrong will finish out this season with the Wolves, though said he hopes to play junior hockey next year.
Huskies fry the fish in Family Day action
With just three games remaining in the OJHL regular season, the Haliburton County Huskies are in a straight shot with the Wellington Dukes for second place in the South/East conference – and the post-season home advantage that comes with it.
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena was packed to the brim on Family Day (Feb. 20) as the blue and white welcomed the Lindsay Muskies to town for the final chapter of this season’s Battle of Hwy. 35. The home team cruised to a 5-1 win, their fourth of the season over Lindsay, giving them 74 points after 51 games – one better than the Dukes, who have played a game less.
There was a celebratory mood inside the rink in the lead-up, with the Huskies holding a pre-game ceremony to honour its eight graduating players. Mid-season acquisitions Josh Currie, Boyd Stahlbaum and Zack Terry joined goaltender Aidan Spooner, top-scorer Ty Collins, assistant captains Sam Solarino and Isaac Sooklal, and captain Christian Stevens in receiving a standing ovation at centre ice, each flanked by members of their family.
Things turned serious as soon as the puck dropped Monday afternoon. Forward Lucas Stevenson lasted just 15 seconds before being handed a game misconduct for throwing a hit to the head of Muskies’ defenceman Gavin Keller.
The home side’s PK unit was resolute, killing the five-minute major and a Currie slashing minor.
Midway through the period, the Huskies found an opening – though the goal was shrouded in controversy. Currie latched onto a loose puck in front of the net at 9:41, diverting it goalward. Muskies blueliner Alexis Gonzalez-Lambert attempted a block on the goal line, but, after a lengthy stoppage, the officials gave the goal.
Carson Christy scored a penalty shot for the visiting side at 13:26, sending the teams in tied after the first buzzer.
Zack Terry rung the iron with a low shot from the slot early in the second, before Stahlbaum, who started the season with the Muskies, came back to haunt his old team. He lifted a rebound high into the Lindsay goal at 11:54 after netminder, Yacine Chemrouk, had denied Sooklal and Leo Serlin. Collins then made it a 3-1 game at 14:29, finishing off another rebound – this time on the powerplay.
The game fell a little flat in the third, though the Huskies added a pair of goals late in the frame. Stevens took advantage of a five-on-three opportunity to score his 20th goal of the season at 15:23, with Alex Cunningham tipping a Lucas Marshall shot in at 18:22.
The win was the “perfect response” to a disappointing 6-3 road loss to the Georgetown Raiders Feb. 18, Stevens told The Highlander.
“We faced a bit of adversity there early on, but our PK has been unreal all season… we stuck in there, then took full advantage when our chances came,” Stevens said.
He felt it was a good omen that the Huskies had five different names on the scoresheet. “That’s what makes a championship team – scoring from all over the ice. We have confidence no matter who’s out there.”
With playoffs looming, the Huskies look set for a seven-game series with the St. Michael’s Buzzers or Toronto Patriots. They’ve played each team four times this season, going 4-0 against St. Michael’s and splitting their series with the Patriots 2-2.
“This is the best time of the year for a hockey player. I always get excited for playoffs,” Stevens said. “We’ve got to take care of business now in these last few games, try and secure that second spot that we’ve had all year. That would give us home ice advantage, which is huge for us because we love playing in Minden in front of all our fans.”
First though, the blue and white will host the Toronto Jr. Canadiens Feb. 25, before traveling to Milton for a tilt with the Menace Feb. 26. They close out the regular season in Minden March 4 against the North York Rangers. Playoffs begin March 8.
Storm dominate Generals 12-0
On Friday, Feb. 17, The Highland Storm Tom Prentice and Sons U18 Rep team faced off against the Oshawa Generals at the S.G Nesbitt Memorial Arena.
The first period started with Aiden Perrott scoring a goal within the first 10 seconds. Twenty seconds after that, Alex Henry scored a goal. Next, Perrott scored his second goal. Then, on a powerplay, Kyan Hall scored a goal, making it 4-0. Within seconds, Henry scored his second goal. The game was 5-0 going into the second.
The second period started with a beautiful one-timer by Gage Hutchinson. Then, Kaine Brannigan scored his first goal of the game. Next, Brody Prentice scored his first goal of the game. Then, Perrott scored his hat-trick goal. Nathan Guild scored his first goal. It was 10-0 going into the third.
The third period started with Avery Degeer scoring his first goal of the game followed by another goal by Brannigan. The final score was 12-0.
High school Nordic team off to provincials
Sisters, Olivia and Violet Humphries, were only two when parents, Joleen Thomas and Stuart Humphries, put them on cross country skis for the first time.
Now, Olivia, in Gr. 11, and Violet, in Gr. 9, are members of the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) Nordic team that is off to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Feb. 22-24 at Lakefield College School.
Olivia came in second in her category at COSSA high school, finishing a mere .8 of a second behind the winner, a club skier. She completed the seven-kilometre course in slightly over 24 minutes. Violet was also a silver medalist in her category, also losing out to a club skier. She completed a fivekilometre circuit in just over 17 minutes.
Neither knows what to expect this coming week as they have not raced at the provincial level before. Olivia thinks the schools from further north are probably a lot more into it due to weather and trail conditions.
Neither is intimidated, though. Violet has run cross-country at OFSAA. “I don’t really mind because I’m used to races from crosscounty running. To me, it’s just another race.”
Haliburton captured the COSSA junior girls team title. Violet, along with teammates Erika Hoare (fourth), Ella Gervais (fifth) and Olivia Gruppe (sixth) earned gold medals in this category supported by Grace Allder (eighth), who is the official alternate for the team. Hannah Sharp (ninth), and Teagan Hamilton (11th) also qualified for OFSAA in the junior girls division with their strongest ski of the season. Erika was 11th in the overall junior results.
Along with Olivia’s second in senior girls, Haiden Bird was sixth in junior boys.
Gervais said looking at the overall results from COSSA, among all 42 junior level skiers across the three associations and both genders, Violet had the fourth fastest time, “which is pretty impressive.
“And all eight of our junior skiers finished in the top three-quarters of the finishers. It should also be noted that the junior girls sprint relay team of Violet, Erika, Ella and Olivia had the top finishing time at the meet from all the junior teams, including the boys. This was a 4x900m course,” Gervais said.
The coach said last season was cancelled due to the pandemic, and Sharp, Hamilton and Bird all learned to cross country ski just this year.
“They had been competing previously in the 3km Novice division as new skiers, but all chose to make the leap to the competitive 5km race and vie for an OFSAA qualifying spot, which is no easy feat to complete this distance. All nine skiers have qualified for OFSAA.”
Coach Gervais is feeling “great” about their chances.
“I think our junior girls’ team is looking really strong along with our top individual skiers.”
Mike Rieger is co-coach and Joleen Thomas and Kevin Hoare have also helped coach and support the athletes throughout the season.
Gervais said it’s been years since they’ve had such a large Nordic team and sent so many athletes to OFSAA.
“These athletes have all worked really hard and each has improved so much individually.”
She added even better news is they will all be returning next year, and will be joined by some strong elementary school skiers.
Games ‘experience of a lifetime’ for Haliburton curler
Haliburton’s Owen Nicholls is looking to make a name for himself on the national stage later this month, when he travels to Summerside, P.E.I. to participate in the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
Nicholls, a Grade 12 student at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS), will play in the U18 curling championships, where he will represent the London-based Team Stratton. It will be his 12th major event of a highly-successful first season with the team, which has claimed wins at multiple prestigious events, including the Canada Winter Games trials in December, and the Ontario provincial championships in January.
The event will feature 12 of the best up-and-coming teams from across the country, including representatives from all 10 provinces, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories. Nicholls leaves Feb. 26 and will be down east for 10 days.
“To say it’s the stuff of dreams would be an understatement. Having the chance to play at a Canada Games and see how good you have to be to actually compete at that level, it’s going to be one of the best experiences of my life,” Nicholls told The Highlander.
Playing the lead position, Nicholls has developed a tight bond with his new teammates this season. Having played with fellow Haliburtonian Jacon Dobson at the U21 level last year, Nicholls accepted an offer to join Team Stratton in the summer, after serving as a spare for the squad at least season’s provincial championships.
“I gladly took the offer – they were the reigning provincial champions and a national bronze medalist, so I saw it as an opportunity to take my game to new heights,” he noted.
Nicholls has come a long way from his humble beginnings as a novice, starting out at the youth program at the Haliburton Curling Club. It’s been nine years since he threw his first rock, and while he’s played at some of the best venues across the province, he said his favourite rink will always be right here in the Highlands. He still gets out to the Mountain Street facility at least once a week for regular league play.
He gave a shoutout to Hugh Nichol and Terry Lawrence, who ran the youth program, for inspiring him at a young age and pushing him to learn and grow over the years. He said he plans to take their many lessons and put them into practice on the ice in Summerside next week.
After working out some early season kinks, Team Stratton is heading into the games as one of the favourites. Nicholls feels the team is coming into peak form at just the right time.
“This has been our goal right from day one. Now that we’re here we have to make the most of this opportunity,” Nicholls said.
“At the beginning of the season, we were just scratching out wins whereas now we’re really earning them… it’s going to be nice to test myself and see how we fare as a team. I’m confident we can go there and compete against anyone.”
Team Stratton is guaranteed to play five games, starting with an afternoon tilt against Team Northwest Territories Feb. 28. To track results, visit 2023canadagames.ca.
Growing business to bring flowers into people’s lives
The business name is unconventional – Snaffle+Mane plant + floral design – and the proprietor admits to being a bit “quirky” as the latest offering at 83 Maple Ave., Haliburton springs into life.
Gillian Taylor is likely a familiar face to many. She ran the Cookhouse at the Haliburton Forest for a spell. She was at Boshkung Brewing and Castle Antiques for a short time. She’s done carpentry and a lot of marketing for other businesses. She’s a horse afficionado.
While potting succulents at her shop overlooking the corner of Maple Avenue and York Street, Taylor said her own postcard marketing illustrates the fact, “I’m a pretty quirky human, so I was like, ‘I’m just going to do whatever I think. I want it to be ridiculous’.” The advertising postcard depicts a horse and rabbit along with some plants.
Taylor has had the business for almost seven years, operating out of markets in Toronto. She now lives on Stormy Lake with her mother.
When Heidi Hudspith was moving her Mixtape Vintage business, she asked Taylor if she would be interested in taking over the space. She recalled saying, “don’t be crazy.”
However, “I mulled it over for a weekend and then I made the decision that it was time to take my business to the next level.” She took over the storefront Feb. 2, renovated “solidly” and opened Feb. 11.
Asked about her trade, she said she started out concentrating on succulents. She grows them. She was doing arrangements in upcycled, repurposed antiques.
“I’ve always loved plants. In my condo in Toronto, I had huge windows and exposed ceilings. I just literally jammed plants into every single nook and cranny. Then, I started becoming more interested in different varieties and different species. It just kind of took off from there.
“I’ve just always loved flowers,” she added. “I started doing events and little pop-ups. It really brought me a lot of joy.”
However, the logistics of not having a physical location, and a proper storage fridge, were challenging, especially if doing weddings or other events. She said her home became “coo coo.”
Asked to elaborate on her love of plants, Taylor retorted with a laugh, “well, plants don’t talk back.
“I’ll pick up a plant, I’ll be ‘oh, hi!’ Watching things grow, I don’t have children, so I don’t really have that element of watching something be cultivated by hand. My horse obviously is sort of that for me.”
She said she’s also always been customer service oriented. Her core business values include consistent hours, a friendly face that says hello when someone comes through the door, accommodating as much as she possibly can, taking the time to have chats with people and get to know them, not just view them as a dollar sign.
She hopes to do a lot of weddings and celebrations. She plans to do subscription programs for regular customers, with possible pick-up points so people don’t have to travel to Haliburton. She wants to keep her prices as reasonable as possible “to allow people to bring flowers into their lives on a regular basis.” She sources her stock herself in-person when she can.
“Anything I do, I put 100 per cent towards. Having done that for so many other people, it was time to work those 12 hours a day and see that work directly pay off … I just want to be open and busy.”
through Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
New storefront focuses on healthy homes
A chance meeting between two entrepreneurs has led to a new collaboration that has taken Haliburton County by storm.
Deborah Lyons and Avril Copestick have combined their two businesses, Organic Times Emporium and Rowan & Oak Bath & Body, under one roof, setting up shop in the building previously frequented by ACM Designs on the corner of County Road 21 and Industrial Park Road in Haliburton.
The new space is jam-packed with products that adhere to the pair’s environmentallyfocused, community-minded mantra – from handcrafted soaps and candles, to mineralbased paints, homemade jewellery and reclaimed art.
“There’s a little bit of everything here,” Lyons told The Highlander. “After I sold my previous business in Minden, I decided to open a store in Haliburton that would take care of the home, with a focus on creating a healthy home. There’s a lot of eco-friendly products in here, most of them using upcycled and reused materials.”
Lyons has been operating a storefront in the community for around 18 months, previously located on Industrial Park Road. She felt limited in that space, though, and started to look for a new home last summer. It was around that time she was introduced to Copestick. Having just moved to the Highlands from Nova Scotia in December 2021, Copestick was looking for a retailer that would sell her soap and candle products. The pair immediately hit it off.
After a successful soft launch at Organic Times, and the continued popularity of her stall at the Haliburton Farmers Market, Copestick pondered branching out and opening a retail operation of her own. In the end, a partnership with Lyons made more sense.
“We complement each other so nicely. We have the same approach to business, and the same sense of community… we are trying to build this space and support local as much as we possibly can. All the materials I use for my soaps, candles and other products are sourced locally, or at least within the province,” Copestick said.
“We are all about Canadian, Canadian, Canadian. If there’s anything inside this store that says it was made elsewhere, that’s because it’s a reclaimed piece created by a Canadian artist or designer,” Lyons added.
After a busy first few weeks, the pair are preparing themselves for a hectic summer. Lyons said she hopes to grow her product line in the coming months, while Copestick said she plans to maintain a presence at the Haliburton Farmers Market once it reopens.
Lyons said she hopes to use the space to inspire the community’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
“I’m not sure if I can see myself here still doing this 10 years from now,” she said. “In Minden, I had someone young, energetic, and enthusiastic who wanted to take the business on… that’s what I’d like to see happen here one day. We need more younger entrepreneurs to step forward and keep the spirit of business alive in Haliburton County long after people like me have fully retired.”
Organic Times Emporium and Rowan & Oak Bath & Body is open six days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. For more information, visit rowanandoakco.ca, or search ‘Organic Times Emporium’ on Facebook.
Family and friends celebrate life of Lisa Kerr
“She was just so good at life,” Lisa Kerr’s daughter, Loretta, told a packed Pinestone Resort room Feb. 18 as family and friends gathered to say farewell to the Minden woman who touched so many Highlands lives since 1998.
Kerr died Feb. 15 after an eight-month battle with brain cancer.
Looking around the Pinestone ballroom, her husband, Bill Kerr, said, “Lisa would have loved this. She would be having the best afternoon with all you people.”
He recalled how he first laid eyes on Lisa at a University of Toronto lecture theatre in Scarborough in 1982 and almost immediately fell in love with her. They married in their last year of university. He said Lisa was a bright and gifted lawyer but sacrificed “and became a great mom” to their four children.
When he wanted to move from Scarborough to the family cottage in Minden Hills, Lisa thought it would be best for the children and agreed to the shift. Bill said she always had his back. “She’d take a bullet for me, basically.”
When he had the dream of starting Volunteer Dental Outreach for Haliburton County, despite Lisa already being extremely busy, her response was, ‘let’s do this.” He said she did “everything” along with the VDO’s board members. It was the same way she handled the dental trips to Honduras.
After her diagnosis, Bill said, “she was just peaceful and calm. We were all a mess and she was just the strength of our family. And her faith kind of flourished at that point.”
Bill said his wife felt people of all religions were praying for her. She thought God might be using the disease to bring religions together. He added she had an inner peace, was never afraid, and remained optimistic. “She was just amazing. She was fearless through this battle. She just wanted to live.”
After brain surgery, they went to the Sound of Music in Haliburton. She went to see Elton John in concert and attended TIFF with her girlfriends. The family made a trip to Turks and Caicos. She wanted to make a magical Christmas for the family in case it was her last. Bill said she was always thinking about other people. “She was just so selfless.
“She was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me. I only got 40 years but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I will always love her…” Kerr was also remembered for being part of the Those Other Movies, Doc(k) Day and HIFF family, and playing in the Highlands Chamber Orchestra.
Daughter Loretta recalled introducing the term yolo (you only live once) to her mom – and Lisa saying ‘Oh, I definitely have a yolo attitude’. She had a contagious zest for life and really did live to the fullest…” Loretta said even after the diagnosis, her mother said she had no regrets and just wanted to live, radiating joy and kindness, and having fun.
Lisa’s brother, Michael, said growing up she was his go-to person, his accountability, a natural born leader, who was reliable and trustworthy.
He said she was hopeful and optimistic in her journey. He spoke of her faith in the last months of her life, realizing God was in control and she was drawing closer to him. She believed there was a purpose to her illness, to bring others closer to God. He said reading devotionals to her drew him closer to the Lord, fulfilling her purpose.
“We know she’s at peace. There’s no more tears. There’s no more sorrow.”
See the full celebration of life at livestream. funeralscreen.com/gordon-a-monk-funeralhome/lisa-marie-kerr.