PATRICK STEWART SHAW

(Baangii Nbiish eBiigisiing) (October 24, 1963 – January 12, 2026) Pat loved everyone he met, and they loved him back. He died suddenly of unexpected heart complications in Ushuaia, Argentina, a place he treasured since 1991. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Leea Litzgus (Ogimaa Bineshiikwe); his daughter, Simone (Waabishki Memengoons); and his son, Harris (Zhaawshko Giizhik). Pat was loved dearly by his mother, Robina "Bobbi;" his late father, Michael; his sisters, Yasmina-Hilary and Alexa-Frances; and his brother, Ian. He was deeply cherished by his niece, Nicole; his nephews, Cree, Devon, and Joshua; his uncle, Philip; his aunt, Sally; and his in-laws, April, Jason, Brian, Melanie, and Phil. Respected Anishinaabe grandmother Lilian Pitawanikwat bestowed upon Pat the spirit name Baangii Nbiish eBiigisiing, which means "a droplet of water that causes an impactful ripple." Pat packed a lot of life into a short time, and his impactful ripple left the world a better place. Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, Canada, Pat came into the world as a hazel-eyed, gentle, and happy soul, curious to meet every stranger who crossed his path. He inspired many with his compassion, generosity, and zest for life. Pat took great pleasure in hosting parties, especially Christmas dinner, quietly making the rounds to ensure everyone felt included. He was seen as a great connector and the glue that kept communities together. Pat's dedication to team building led his employees to follow him wherever he went. Family was his passion, and many called him a brother. His spirit of exploration began as a boy. He packed a knapsack with cookies, a knife, matches, and a rolled-up towel to hike the Toronto ravines or set up camp along the Saugeen River. Thereafter, he never turned down an opportunity for adventure. He led the first Canadian expedition to the Antarctic with many notable guests, including former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He was a leading helmsman in the classic offshore sailing race, the Fastnet, and traveled four continents by motorcycle with his buddies. From a young age, he spent his summers sailing at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and managing the Ojibway Club in Pointe au Baril, where he met his wife Leea. Pat enjoyed winter weekends skiing at Georgian Peaks. Much of his life was spent traveling around the world, but his favourite destination was Antarctica, and the port he departed from, Ushuaia. Pat earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and International Relations from the University of Toronto, his M.A. in International History from the London School of Economics, and his MBA from Ivey Business School. At age 24, Pat supervised the construction of, and then managed, the Université Canadienne en France in Villefranche-sur-Mer, where he lived for five years. His love of Canada led him to be the national coordinator for "My Canada Includes Quebec." He was the vice president of Marine Expeditions, where he spearheaded environmentally responsible travel in Antarctica, and organized the collection of 50 years' worth of garbage. As the president and CEO of Quark Expeditions, he grew the company to be the largest in polar travel. He served as CEO of Blyth Academy Schools, enrolling 10,000 students annually. Most recently, he became the CEO of Polar Latitudes Expeditions. Pat's impactful ripple reached many corners of the globe and many people's hearts. The greatest gift he gave was an example of how to be kind to one another and to value all who cross our paths. His family would like to thank; the people of Ushuaia for honouring his life with celebrations and salutes, and his colleagues and employees for their outpouring of love and support - particularly Erich, Mariela, and Dr. Larson of Polar Latitudes for their efforts. The devotion of Pat's "brothers from other mothers" - Dimas, Mike, Veljko, Andy, Dr. Mike, et al. - has been a tremendous comfort, as has been Emilio, who held Pat's hand at the end. His children want everyone to know how proud they are to have had such an inspirational father. All of his family will miss him dearly. Pat leaves a big hole in the lives of so many. Funeral and Celebration of Life on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 78 Clifton Rd., Toronto, M4T 2G2 (minimal street parking only), Livestream Access to Funeral at: ipickart.com/stream/PatrickShaw/ To honour Pat's memory and in lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the "Pat Shaw Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund" for Students on Ice, an organization that funds opportunities for youth from around the world to explore the polar regions. The Pat Shaw Memorial Scholarship Endowment - https://soifoundation.org/en/patshawscholarship/