Mira, I saw Will's obituary in the Kingston paper this morning. 

My heart is hurting for you.  

I am hoping you will find peace and joy again in your own time.

I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know Will during his time in Victoria. He was a kind and gracious man and held within him a great deal of passion and compassion. We bonded over everything from video games to art to posts on reddit. When he found out that I had caught COVID, he immediately offered to distantly drop off groceries and supplies. I never would have asked or thought to impose, and yet Will was so immediately thoughtful and generous and gracious with his offer. The world could use more of those deliberate acts of love and kindness.

I am relieved to see the honesty about his death and addiction. I can only imagine that was very difficult to write and share. Addiction thrives in secrecy and shame, but almost all of our families are touched by it. Honesty is one step toward breaking stigma.

As I got to know Will, he shared more about his addiction and I saw how he was working so hard to get better and get help. I admired that and still do. (Mira, we also saw you try to move mountains to mobilize every possible service. Will confided in me how much your love and support meant to him.) Taking those steps isn't easy. There is so much stigma. Will’s ability to be open about his history with me and my partner, at severe risk of that stigma, speaks volumes to his character. I respect him so much for that. We were both honoured to have his trust.

Abby and I are both so devastated and send our care out to Will’s family, his friends, and to you, Mira.

Knowing Will, I really feel that the best way to honor his memory is to treat each other with the same kindness and offer the same deliberate care that Will offered everyone he met.

I met Will through his love, Mira, and I'm so glad I did. I was lucky to spend time with Will over intimate drinks and dinners, where I met someone enthusiastically excited by film and cinema, current events, community,  and connecting with those around him.  I knew him as someone progressively striving towards a better future, deeply interested in the world around him,  instantly warm, and extremely kind.  He jumped right into hugs hello, and that easy intimacy and warmth carried through into each time I had the pleasure of spending time in his presence. 

When I think of him, I think of how he connected quickly with my anxious pup, who recognized him as a safe person to play with from day one. Every time she saw him, she'd start to try to play with him. It was so obvious that she loved him instantly.  I think of moments when he joined me at Pride events, impromptu couple hangs made possible when we ended up neighbors when he moved in with Mira, and the happiness I felt in building community with him and Mira in Victoria.

Over the last year,  I felt incredibly deep joy as I witnessed the intimate, beautiful, big love between Mira and Will. I watched them care for each other. I felt their palpable excitement over the future they were building together. I saw how they complimented each other and made each other better through their partnership. There was such beauty in their relationship,  and I feel intense gratitude that I witnessed the deeply joyful, emotional, caring, and life- changing love Will and Mira found in each other. It was a once in a lifetime love.

I also feel deep gratitude that I witnessed Will open up to the possibilities that community care and love can offer someone. And deep gratitude that I knew Will for the brief, but big months that I got to know him for.  I cannot even begin to express how much he will be missed.