Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am both proud and deeply saddened to rise today to speak to the memory of my dear friend Greg Pratt whose recent passing deeply impacted many residents of our community, his hometown of Victoria, and the various lives he touched in between. Greg was the kind of person you remember when you meet them. He struck an imposing figure at well over 6 feet tall, was extensively tattooed, had a boisterous laugh, and approached everything he did with notable confidence, dedication, and skill. Frankly, he was one of those people who was frustratingly good at everything he did. I've never felt as inferior as I did try to play crib against him and being decisively humiliated at it or attempting to help out with a simple home renovation project and quickly demonstrating I was totally useless alongside his journeyman skill set.
But Greg was also unflinchingly kind and patient and relentlessly funny. He was quick to tease and kid around but never made you feel excluded, and he was incredibly generous with his time and knowledge.
In his time in Yellowknife, Greg became best known for his work as a firefighter and paramedic, his chosen dream jobs, which he excelled at and quickly became both a mentor and close friend among his tightknit group of colleagues.
Greg was married to Crissie Carrigan, his partner of ten years, and their two dogs, Buster and Fonzie, completed their family. Together, they were constant hosts to large groups of friends at their home on Taylor Road, and I have been incredibly privileged to count myself as one of them.
Greg was diagnosed with terminal cancer two years ago, devastating news which hit his family and those of us close to him incredibly hard. What stood out to me in the years that followed, however, and what I'll remember most, was not sadness but the incredible courage and positivity he and Crissie showed in the face of the impossible. I also watched the community rally around them, eager to help in any way they could, as Yellowknife tends to do in such times.
During those years, I also somehow found myself in constant deficit to the favours they would do for me. Despite everything they were going through, Crissie and Greg made a point of going out of their way to celebrate a friend's birthday, continued to host parties and games nights with friends, or went completely out of their way to do a favour without expecting anything in return.
One of my favorite memories of Greg is when my partner Rhiana's parents were visiting last summer, and he made a point of taking us out to the East Arm in his boat so her dad could experience our legendary fishing. We had an incredible time with him and his brother on the water, and you could tell he was so happy to be out there with us. That generosity and kindness is something I will always cherish and look up to, and it also helps sum up what Greg meant to me as a person.
Put simply, Greg showed me what being a good person looks like in the simplest but most fundamental ways possible. He was a dedicated, supportive, and loving partner. He was a generous, kind, and hilarious friend. He is deeply missed by the many friends and loved ones he has left behind, including me, and he lived a full and meaningful life. Greg's passing has left a big hole in our community but all of us whose lives he touched are better for having known him. We love you, and we'll always miss you, Greg. Thank you for being a part of our lives.
