I’ve written a letter to my dad in hopes he hears it from heaven.

Dad, I started writing a living tribute for you a few months back, however I didn’t finish it because to me it would mean you were actually leaving us. I don’t know what life will be like without you, but I sure will never forget what life was like with you here.

Let’s start with your childhood, and the stories that you seriously would never let anyone forget, because at every holiday dinner you took center stage, reminiscing over and over again. I’m so thankful now that you spoke so often about your memories, so that I can always remember and tell your granddaughter Victoria when she asks about you.

You were always a wonderful storyteller.

Caley and I loved it so much the way you would read to us before bedtime. Every night dad you never missed a night. Now I read Victoria bedtime stories, just like you did for me, this is so special to me now.

We have so many wonderful memories growing up, fishing, boat rides, camping, road trips, birthday pool parties, letting us do doughnuts in the Zellers parking lot on your lap, dancing on coffee tables to Tom Petty, and how Santa Clause only liked skim milk because he was watching his weight.

All these memories were always documented by you dad the video taper extraordinaire, or they were more like scenes from the Blair Witch project. Dad, you did not have a steady hand, your focus was so terrible it was like you were videotaping while being chased by a pack of wolves. This will forever make me laugh.

Other things that will always make me laugh about you, how you were when we went to any drive though window, you knew how to read, however when the attendant would ask you what your order was you would always answer , “ can I get one of those thingy ma jigs” I would always respond from the back seat to you “dad, nobody knows what a thingy ma jig is.”

Or whenever we would ask you a question or a series of questions in a row that you didn’t want to answer you would always say “what are you a cop” and end it just like that. You always did things your own way Dad, I admire that so much about you, and you loved your children with all your heart.

I will never forget the beautiful barbie house you built for me; you spent hours on it. You converted a 4-drawer dresser into Barbies dream house mansion, kitchen, living room, bedrooms, bathrooms all hand crafted by you. I would spend hours in the basement playing with this dollhouse while you listened to all your old rock and roll records on your record player

Every Tuesday for years driving me and picking me up from piano lesson, baseball games, Karate teaching Caley and I to fish, ride a bike, and how to hold and place our cutlery properly once we finished our meal. Dad your love for proper table etiquette would have made your favorite member of the Royal Family, Queen Elizabeth the second extremely proud. Now every time the Royal Family has their televised Christmas message this will always remind me of you and how we would call each other to see if we were both watching it. Dad you were so proud to be Scottish but oddly enough you were also proud of your British passport, imagine a Scott being proud of anything British, I’m not sure what William Wallace would say to that dad.

I will never forget waking up on the weekends in my teenage prime at 12pm to the speakers cranked up to 10, 92 Citi FM, you with a bubba mug, cigar, baking in the hot summer sun in the pool. Good music, a good drink and hot summer weather will always bring me back to those days dad and remind me of how wonderful my childhood was thanks to mom and you.

You suffered far too long Dad, but I know why, you wanted to be here for your family, you were always thinking about us and how we needed you here.

Dad, I’m so fortunate that I had the opportunity while you were sick these last few years to go back to Winnipeg to visit with you. One of the last times we spent together you answered my 23 questionnaire on your life, your joys, regrets, experiences and words of wisdom for me and your granddaughter Victoria, I will cherish this forever.

Your answers to these questions will always stay with me, here are a few of my favorites.

· Your biggest life lesson was to never take anything for granted, my time with you Dad I never will.

· Some of the things you still wanted to experience but didn’t get the chance to, I will try to do all these things in your memory.

· Take a cruise around the World

· Go fishing up north, to Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska, however not my thing dad, but I will maybe go on a boat and suntan ok.

· Go back to Scotland with mom

· Bungee jumping and sky diving, I’m going to pretend you didn’t say those.

· The same thing goes for how you wanted to swim with sharks, I will skip this one too ok.

· The one I will really enjoy with great pleasure is how you said you wanted to buy lots of gold jewelry, rings and necklaces, this I will most certainly do in your honor.

It’s funny, now that I think about it every time I asked you about your biggest regrets, you never answered me until the third time I asked you, you finally said “everything in life happens the way it’s supposed to Krista, so no regrets

The best one though and one that I will pass on to Victoria from Grandpa is when I asked you what advice you would give me that you haven’t been able to tell me yet, your answer “Never give up, things will always get better”

Dad, I needed to hear this more than you will ever know since you’ve left. You always said to me “Krista don’t cry, you have a little girl now and a family you need to take care of don’t you worry about me.”

Dad, I won’t worry anymore I know I have the two best guardian angles I could have ever asked for now, Caley and you. I know you both are always with me, and I know you want me to stop crying now so I will.

Thank you for everything you have taught me, thank you for everything you have instilled in me, and thank you for being the most wonderful loving dad.

Love you forever and a day,

Krista Bista Boo.

My condolences on the passing of Sandy.

Thinking of you during this difficult time.

Take care,

My sincerere condolences to you all for your loss of Sandy. Gone before his time. I knew, Sandy for so many years at Winnipeg Hydro and Mb Hydro.

It was easy to figure out he was friendly funny., and enjoyable to work with. 😀

Condolences to Evelyn and family and Linda in the passing of Sandy. I have many memories of hanging out with Sandy and other friends of his and mine back in the day, sadly all gone now. Rest in peace Sandy.

Evelyn & Family,

Please accept my most sincere condolences on Sandy's passing. I used to so enjoy our times at the LdB Library trying to make those darn computers do his bidding. Take care Evelyn. Rest in Peace Sandy!

Hello I had the pleasure of working with Sandy back in Winnipeg Hydro, he was a funny guy, great personality,.. I'm trying to upload a old photo I have of a few of the service workers.. so sorry for your loss..

Sandy my you rest in peace, too the family he is now in peace and will always look down on all of us.

with much love Lopes family