PETER VINCENT GENDRON

Peter Gendron died on November 11, 2025, with his family by his side, at his home in Owen Sound, after a life well-lived. Though diagnosed long ago with Parkinson's Disease, Peter died through MAiD, one month short of his 90th birthday. Peter was the son of Vince (1989) and Jackie Gendron (2003); brother of Jim (1971) and Michael (Margaret 2002); uncle to Mark and Andrea; and loyal and much-loved life partner of Judy (Osborn), who he met at a blind date tennis game. He was the patient Dad of his recalcitrant sons, Steve and Greg; supportive father-in-law to very capable daughters-in-law, Emily and Hsin-Ting; and the impish and caring Poppa/Grandpa to his energetic grandchildren, Walter, Henry, Conrad and Carissa. Peter Gendron was many things and a true "Renaissance man." He constructed a cottage, built a boat in the basement, reroofed houses, hunted, fished, canoed, hiked the West Coast Trail, accepted a lunch invitation from the Governor General, whitewater kayaked, rode his bicycle across Canada, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, downhill skied until he was 84, furthered Metis identity, safely drove his family hundreds of thousands of kms crisscrossing North America, always camped in a tent, read, sang, "played" the harmonica, travelled extensively, and was very interested in world affairs. Peter was born in Toronto and moved to Orangeville for high school. To pay for his post-secondary education, Peter "dug" in the frozen ground of Canada's Arctic while helping build the Defence Early Warning Line. He studied at the College Militaire Royale and later at the University of Toronto (MSW'62). As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Peter commanded his platoon of the Queen's Own Rifles in West Germany, finishing as a First Lieutenant. Upon leaving the army, he began a career in Social Work spanning 30 years. As a social worker, Peter began his career in the NWT and lived with an Inuit family to familiarize himself with their culture. Later, and after various roles in child welfare in Ontario, Peter worked at the Ontario Hospital School where he spent four days and nights on a ward with the patients to better understand how they lived and felt. Peter finished his career in Owen Sound; first as the only Social Worker at the General and Marine Hospital, then at Mackinnon Phillips and finally as Director of the Social Work Department at GBRHC. Peter was a great example to his family of how to lead a meaningful life which contributed to society's betterment. Peter was principled and could not be bought; he even refused money from Conn Smythe once. He was not without his faults (that are missed dearly): he hated to throw things out, drove the speed limit (except on gravel), made sandwiches without condiments, and spit on a napkin to clean chocolate off his sons' faces. Peter cared about his family, his friends and also vulnerable populations. He tried to make the world a better place. In the 1990s, Peter was a one-man protest (complete with a homemade sign) on a rainy day at the Bayshore Arena when a certain provincial leader came to Owen Sound. At that time, he recognized the complete lack of "common sense" in this leader's policies, which began the privatization of Ontario's health services and long-term care. Sadly, Peter and his family (like thousands of other Ontario families) dealt with the terrible consequences of those policies. Peter, again foreseeing the future and seeing through "a buck a beer," asked for donations to be made to the Ontario Health Coalition (www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca) to fight against ever-increasing privatization of Ontario's health and long-term care services. "My Ontario includes the poor." – Peter's one and only bumper sticker. Peter's family would like to thank the staff of Brightshores and Summit Place who provided him with direct care, and Amy and Sharon, PSWs who earlier assisted him at home. A come and go memorial visitation will be held at Brian E. Wood Funeral Home, 250 14th St. W., Owen Sound, 519-376-7492, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 2 – 4 p.m. Online condolences can be sent to Peter's family by visiting his memorial at www.woodfuneralhome.ca.