James Leslie Witte

When I was a little girl, The Hudsons Bay Company department store held frenzied sale days once or twice a year. They would hire an actor to play “Captain Hudson” and, dressed somewhere between a pirate and a vanquishing colonial, he would storm from rack to rack, yelling to the stampede of shoppers clamouring to keep up with him, “I am SLASHING these prices!!!”.  He’d pull out a big black marker and, wielding it like a sword, would slash the regular price down on the accompanying sign.  If the markdown was anything more than 80% (or frankly 50%), the crowd would go nuts, launching towards the rack and stripping it within seconds of whatever ugly, ill-fitting garb it displayed. Of course, Dad and I were right in there. 
I tell this story for two reasons: primarily because during the years I worked in a nursing home, I became convinced people choose when they die. That Dad chose Boxing Day, the day of great sales, had to have been deliberate. I’m also desperately hoping this story helps explain some of the outfits my brothers and I appear in in the photos from the 70’s and 80’s, now posted on this website.

Dad was a pretty colourful character and I’m sure everyone who visits this site will have a story to tell - Will, Tu, Arthur, Alex, Yuelu, Tom, Alison, Jay and I - we’d sure love to hear them.

Most summers, Dad and good friend Peter Vogan took us on epic adventures out to The Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii).  At Dad’s request, we not be hosting funeral, but we will be embarking on a quest to find the legendary Haida Gwaii fishing hole called The Limit.  The Limit is deep within the wild west coast rainforest and it is here that Dad’s ashes will be spread.

Dad’s 73-year life was filled with music, laughter and the outdoors, with blood family and family earned through a lifelong mission to help political refugees, such as himself, migrate safely and settle successfully in Canada.

Dad’s death was long and difficult as any family dealing with dementia will understand. We owe an immense debt of gratitude to Will, Tu and Arthur who cared for Dad in Edmonton with unfailing love, kindness and generosity. And to Mom and Michael, to Deb, Karen, Daniel and all our US family, to our friends near and far, thank you so much for your support and love.

Please spend some time checking out the pictures and stories from one another - we hope you are inspired to contribute -
Kate (Will, Alex and Tom)