Bruce Lawson, colleague, Counseling Foundation of Canada

While Pegi and I both worked in the philanthropic sector, the mission of The Counselling Foundation of Canada was outside the environmental sphere so initially our paths rarely crossed. But over time, that changed. One such time, Pegi & I were both attending Imagine Canada’s “Day on the Hill” in Ottawa, and Pegi & I were sent to some of the same meetings; it was really the first time we’d spent much time talking. By then, the plans for Foundation House were really coming together, and I encouraged her to join us – she was a natural fit from the point of view of representing one of the backbone organizations in our sector, but more importantly, a natural fit because she was so easy to be around; Marcel Lauziere (Lawson Foundation), Jehad Aliweiwi (Laidlaw Foundation) and I had already discussed that we wanted Pegi and CEGN (as it was then known) to join us and we knew she’d fit in with the ethos we were trying to create.

Pegi was a wonderful colleague at Foundation House and over time we became friends. She was such a warm and gentle soul, and forever likable – but when she was focused on a task, she had real intensity and focus. She could also be incredibly quiet; despite being in the same office, we could do for days without crossing paths – so sometimes I’d just go knock on her door to spend a few minutes with her to say hi and check in. But inevitably when we’d meet at the proverbial water cooler, there were smiles, warmth and camaraderie – and talk of our mutual love of all things Georgian Bay (our cottage is in the Sans Souci area, north of Pegi’s family cottage).

I felt honoured to be included in Pegi’s farewell lunch from EFC on Friday, March 13, which coincided with the last day that Foundation House was occupied before pandemic lockdowns. Since then, Foundation House has largely been empty. I still go in once or twice a week, but it’s not the same as when it’s full of people and life. Still when I walk by Pegi’s office, I still half expect to she her there with that intense look of concentration on her face – on the phone, working away at her computer or pouring over the files piled on her desk. 

It felt somehow appropriate I was at Foundation House yesterday when I got the news that Pegi had died. I think it will really sink in when the pandemic allows us to return to the office and she’s not with us. Her presence and spirit will be missed.