Local writer and photographer, Colin Mallard, passed away peacefully at home on November 26th. He was diagnosed with cancer in the Spring of this year and lived his life fully, in the moment, until the end. He is survived by his son Derek Mallard, brother Robin Mallard, sister Susan Vickers and his beloved friend and editor Val Walton.
Colin was active in the civil rights and peace movements of the sixties. He was trained as a psychologist and, for a number of years before his retirement, worked with families of abused children.
Colin had a deep interest in Eastern philosophy, and driven by a strong desire to see the world a more peaceful and just place, sought to share this knowledge. He taught a course on “The Wisdom of Zen, Taoism and Advaita Vedanta” at the NIC’s Elder College and touched the lives of many of his students deeply. He also wrote a number of books, the last of which, “Going to Gaza: Ten Days that Changed the World”, he wrote in his last few months.
We will always remember Colin’s gentleness, compassion, writings, photos, his love of soccer and what an awesome badminton player he was. He brought so much to so many people’s lives. We will miss him.
Thank you to all who cared for him so wonderfully; particularly Dr. Barb Fehlau, Dr. Robbie O’Dwyer, Carol Watts and the palliative care nurses who were all so kind. Memorial donations may be made to help the Syrian refugee crisis at http://care.ca/syria .
Morning Light suffuses all it touches,
Opening eyes and it’s still dark.
The glow comes from the heart
Filling every cell of muscle bone and blood.
That is the beginning
The end is unknown.
And everywhere in between and afterward is love
Nothing but love
Love is all,
The heartbeat of the universe.
by Colin Mallard