bout de papier, Vol. 24, No. 4 (2009) — Winter 2009 // Hiver 2009, p. 42
Don Collier was a foreign service officer who was happiest when on a posting. His love of travel and seeing the world began soon after he discovered studying engineering did not play to his strengths. Working at the university radio station did play to his strengths and he soon left the study of engineering and university life temporarily, picked up a back pack and started travelling the globe. This led him eventually to joining External Affairs and going on a posting as soon as possible.
Don’s first posting was to Seoul, South Korea and this marked the beginning of his love of things Asian. A variety of postings ensued, including Islamabad, Pakistan; Port-of-Spain, Trinidad (it wasn’t Asia, but it also didn’t have snow in winter); Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok, Thailand; and Hong Kong. Along with his love of postings, Don also became a very active member of the Hash House Harriers, travelling to far away places to take part in the reunions and events. One of his favourite lines was that the Harriers were a group of drinkers with a running problem.
Being rotational meant that Don had to spend an occasional interlude in Ottawa at a headquarters assignment and endure several dreaded winters. However, given Don’s enjoyment of life, even time in Ottawa was meant to be lived to the fullest. With Cathy Brownrigg, his wife, gardener and travelling companion, he built a cottage retreat on Kennebec Lake near Sharbot Lake in Ontario. There they enjoyed reading, cooking, canoeing and most of all visiting with friends and family. Don loved classical music so it was natural that he was a great supporter of the annual Chamber Music Festival in Ottawa and a champion of CBC Radio 2.
Don was a conversationalist and a raconteur of ribald stories. He had a warmth and passion for life, mixed with a great curiosity, that were contagious and brought him closer to his friends and family. Don was quietly courageous. He fought off an attack of leukemia in 2003 and was just emerging from its aftermath when Cathy suddenly became ill and passed on. Don moved to Victoria, BC and re-engaged in life, meeting old friends and making new ones, often among the Hash House Harriers. Don was delighted when his doctors gave him the go ahead for a several-month tour of Asia and New Zealand. He returned from the trip energized and enthused.
While in Victoria Don met Helen Estlin, who was not deterred by his globetrotting ambitions, and they were married in December 2008. Don was tickled to inherit four grown children and four grandchildren when he and Helen married, enjoying another adventure life had brought him. Don and Helen were in the midst of planning their annual trip to Kennebec Lake and visiting his many Ottawa friends when the leukemia came back with a vengeance, cutting short Don’s adventures with us.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 24, No. 4 (2009) — Winter 2009 // Hiver 2009, p. 42. Read the rest of this issue →
