I don’t call a lot of people, “friend.” The list of people who I consider to be friends is minimal, at best, and even then, the people who I would entrust most information to is an even smaller list. Jason Letourneau was one of those friends. His sudden passing on Tuesday hit me hard, as it has anyone who has had the privilege of calling him a friend.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jason Scott Letourneau. Jason was born with a major heart defect and through the generous donation of an anonymous family, Jason received the priceless gift of a new heart 18 years ago. Although 40 years of age, Jason thought of himself as just turning “18″ – old enough to vote. Jason worked hard to support those going through any type of hardship. He had been a spokesperson for the Organ Donation and Transplant Association of Canada and helped others whenever possible. He worked for various charitable institutions and had a passion for fund raising. Jason really believed you can make a difference and recently discovered a new passion working at Calgary City Hall which fed his love for communication and public relations. He was overjoyed when the song he wrote for Kim for their wedding day was professionally recorded. Jason will be lovingly remembered by his wife Kimberly who shares his passion for life and music; his parents, Dave and Iris Letourneau; his sister and brother-in-law, Shelley Letourneau and Matt Aird; Baba, Anne Kitchen; in-laws Ron and Pin Baker, Wendy and Andrew Smith and favourite nephew Desmond; numerous aunts and uncles, many friends and coworkers and his always faithful dog Britany. At Jason’s request there will be no services held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to the Foothills Hospital, 1403 – 29 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9 or to Ronald McDonald House, 111 West Campus Place NW, Calgary, AB T3B 2R6. Expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at www.southcalgaryfuneralcentre.ca
I met Jason some 4 years ago. I worked at the Canadian Cancer Society AB/NWT in the IT department, and Jason joined us to work with the Planned Giving department (gifts in wills and other legacy-style gifts). Jason and I became friends pretty quickly (we were also maybe one of 4 or 5 guys on the North side of the CCS building).
Often we would talk in the mornings or during lunch. He would tell me about his latest plans to set a Guinness World Record, or about the fantastic meetings he had with donors. He would, of course, tell me lots about Kim, his wife, and about his music. Jason always had candy in his desk, and he’d always be willing to share while we chatted about the world.
Some lunches, I would bring in my guitar, we’d close the door to the planned giving office, and I’d play while he sang. We’d grab the chords for all sorts of country songs, both of our favourite genre, and we’d just play for an hour.
I don’t know if I introduced him to the background world of politics, but I’d like to think I certainly had an influence. We would chat a lot about the federal arena, where I was most interested at the time. Anyone who is close to me usually gets a lot of that political crap, but he didn’t seem to mind talking about it… so we did.
Eventually, both of us left the Cancer Society. He went off to work for another charity for awhile, and spent some of his free time working on a campaign for Shane Keating. Jason put his heart into what he did, and when Shane was elected in 2010, Jason was rewarded as being his EA. And he was well respected in that position. Ask Chima, or Naheed, or Shane. They’ll tell you the same things – Jason was a hard worker who worked for the constituents of Ward 12, and a tremendous guy to boot.
The last time I saw Jason was at a hockey game in November. A bunch of us politicos were there, and Jason and Shane came and chatted us up for awhile. A few weeks before that, him and I went to a Stamps/Riders game… I reluctantly let him sit next to me, given that ugly green jersey he was wearing… but he bought the beer, so, you know…
In November, Jason also celebrated his eighteenth “hearty” birthday. At the age of 22, Jason was the recipient of a donor heart. He embodied the reason why it’s so important to sign your donor card.
Last September, when he turned 40, he remarked that he was no longer eligible for Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40. I know how much pride he would have if he had received it… but reflecting on this over the last few days, I can only imagine what people would have shown up to a service in his honour – he built a phenomenal reputation at City Hall, among the staff, elected officials, constituents, and the media… he knew power players in all three levels of government, who all respected him. From his work in charities, he built tremendous friendships with people who are scattered around the charitable sector. He was an incredibly influential person, and not because he worked his way up through nefarious ways, but because he genuinely was a good person who worked hard and became well respected for that. He may not have been listed in the magazine, but he was, indeed, one of Calgary’s most influential and “top” people.
But for all the people who cared for Jason, there was one person in this world who Jason cared about more than anyone else – his wife, Kim. You could not know Jason as a friend, and not have heard her name every day. It was obvious, from everything he said, and his body language, that he loved his wife with all of his being. Kim was his entire universe, and there was nothing he was prouder of in life than having her by his side.
To my friend, Jason… these last four years have been better for having known you. Calgary was better for having known you. You will be missed more than I think you ever knew.
Related links:
Those Rings, written and recorded by Jason for his wife, Kim.
