Ottawa Sun
Published: Tuesday, February 8, 2005

'Cherish them every second'

Death is not an easy subject to discuss or write about and it certainly isn't my area of expertise.

However, the tragic loss of 12-year-old Simon Lessard, who died sledding into a tree in Gatineau on Saturday afternoon, gives us ample reason to pause and reflect.

A decade ago, another child met the same fate with the same tree.

In my limited experience with funerals, the death of a family members is always the most painful. Yes, it is nature's course that most of us will bury our parents and grieve our loss.

Mercifully, the passage of time allows our feelings of emptiness and despair to evolve to a more sombre reflection and appreciation for the lessons of love and life that our parents taught us.

But no parent wishes to face the prospect of burying his or her child. Sadly, this is what Francois and France Lessard must now do. Sunday morning's headlines jolted this confident writer into a state of shock.

Instinctively, I went to hug my son and tell him that I love him. Indeed, this is what Francois Lessard told everyone to do yesterday morning during a conference call with his office colleagues.

To paraphrase Francois, he said: "Hug your children, cherish them every second of every day, because you never know ...," and with that he couldn't choke back the tears.

I work with Mr. Lessard: He is a consummate communications professional to the core. He was even apologizing yesterday for not being able to attend a funeral for one of his colleagues who recently lost his mother. It was a measure of the man under the cruelest of ironies.

On Jan. 4, I started a new contract and wandered into Francois' office to introduce myself. Seeing the pictures of his wife France, and two children, Simon and Nathalie, on his wall I inquired about his family.

Francois' eyes lit up. I took a seat and 10 minutes later I felt as if I knew his son and daughter. Great kids, full of life with the steady hands of mom and dad ready to guide them through their coming adolescent years.

That was exactly 36 days ago this morning.

Now, as the family struggles through each hour of this unfolding tragedy, the Lessards are being helped along -- as much as possible given their loss -- by work colleagues, family, friends, neighbours and an unshakable Catholic faith.

As reported in yesterday's Sun, the double tragedy is that they couldn't even donate young Simon's organs for others due to the large volume of blood lost.

Sadly, tragic accidents can happen. Even though signs were posted at Brebeuf Hill clearly indicating that the hill was not safe for sledding, let's face facts, kids -- not to mention adults -- will be kids.

It's time for the City of Gatineau to cut down or safely remove the two trees at the bottom of the hill. And it is here where I take issue with Gatineau Mayor Yves Ducharme's weekend comments that it is an "option" to consider.

With respect, Mayor Ducharme, there is nothing to consider. While we obviously can't take down every tree or light standard that results in death, you can and should remove the trees in question at Brebeuf Hill -- now! Sometimes tragic circumstances lead political bodies to precipitous action. I, for one, will applaud a rash and quick decision in this instance.

Removing the trees and possibly replanting them somewhere else will help avoid a future tragedy. I have an office of 30 strong that will gladly pitch in any labour required and sign whatever waivers are required to expedite this process.

And while we're waiting for these trees to come down, take Francois Lessard's advice to heart and live it each day: Hug and love your kids, again, and again and again, because you never know.