[OPIRG-EVENTS] Ottawa Citizen - local activist killed in car crash - funeral Saturday

[Len Bush <lbush@nupge.ca>]

Note long-time local activist Daniel Guertin was killed in a car accident
Friday night (Citizen story at end).

- wake is at Racine, Robert and Gauthier Funeral home, 180 Montreal Road
	- Thursday and Friday, 7 to 9 pm
	- Saturday 9 to 10:30 am
- Service is at 11 am on Saturday, April 19
	- Ste-Anne Church, Old St. Patrick St.

- in lieu of flowers donations to:
	Bruce House, 
	312 Parkdale Ave
	Ottawa
	K1Y 4X5
Or
	The Good Food Box
	Centretown Community Health Centre
	420 Cooper St
	Ottawa
	K2P 2N6

Condolences to rrg@infonet.ca


Family mourns 'phenomenon' killed in car crash
  
Paula McCooey   
The Ottawa Citizen  
Monday, April 14, 2003

  
For 22 years, Daniel Guertin refused to succumb to a deadly disease.
Afflicted with AIDS, he struggled to maintain a pain-free life, and
channelled whatever energy he could muster into helping others. What set Mr.
Guertin apart from the many who live with AIDS is the length of time he
endured. It was a "phenomenon," his family said.

Ironically, when Mr. Guertin died Friday at 41, it had nothing to do with
his health. He was killed instantly in a head-on collision caused, police
allege, by a drunk driver.

Police say Mr. Guertin, who lived downtown, was travelling alone on Colonel
By Drive near Main Street about 2 a.m. on Friday when his car collided with
a southbound car. He was declared dead at the scene.

Mr. Guertin was a staunch human rights crusader. Involved in many
organizations, he supported Friends of Burma and East Timor and more
recently the many anti-war demonstrations leading up to the war in Iraq.

"Daniel was involved in a lot of benefits and fundraisers," said his sister,
Michelle, adding he would deliver, year-round by bicycle, fruits and
vegetable to those sicker than himself. 

"He was always doing stuff like that," she said.

Mr. Guertin was born in Ottawa on May 4, 1961, and is survived by two
brothers, Louis, 39, and Francois, 43, and two sisters, Marie-Line, 44, and
Michelle, 36. His parents, Jean-Gilles and Marie-Claire, both 75, live in
Aylmer.

Ms. Guertin, a nurse, said her brother was diagnosed 22 years ago with HIV
and has been living with "full blown AIDS for 15 years." She says donating
her brother's body to science is what he would have wanted, since it will
help other AIDS victims battle the disease.

"He's a phenomenon medically speaking," she said. "We don't know what kept
him going. Maybe we'll find out this week or in the next few months."

Louis Guertin was busy yesterday trying to notify his brother's "large
group" of friends. He said it was his brother's good nature that drew so
many to him.

"Even though he had this very serous illness and struggled with medication,
and knowing that maybe at some point that medication would not always be
effective, he was always jolly, always willing to help anybody," he said.
"He was a very giving person, he kept things in his apartment in case
someone needed a fan that was half working or any kind of object. He was
always willing to help."

Reuben Anand, 27, of Ottawa, has been charged with dangerous driving causing
death, impaired driving causing death and four counts of impaired driving
causing bodily harm in connection with Friday night's crash.
-
This is the OPIRG-events@ox.org list. Participatory activist events only.
To unsubscribe, send email to opirg-events-request@ox.org, and put
"unsubscribe" in the body.
Archive at: http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/lists/html/opirg-events/