JEAN-GUY MEILLEUR

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JEAN-GUY MEILLEUR Jean-Guy Meilleur passed away at the Foothills Hospital on September 9, 2000 as a result of a skydiving accident near Drumheller. Born on June 5, 1970, Jean-Guy spent his infant years in Ste. Anne-des-Chenes, Manitoba and moved to Calgary in September of 1976. He attended St. Luke Elementary School and Madeleine DHouet Junior High in Calgary and College Mathieu in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan. He came back to Calgary for his secondary education at Saint Francis High School where he graduated in 1989, majoring in Drama and Carpentry, in addition to the added responsibility of designing and building the sets and props required by the Drama Club. As a very young child, he demonstrated an amazing artistic ability. It was at St. Francis High where this talent metamorphosed into dramatic theatre set design and construction. This was to develop into the core of his professional life, starting with an apprenticeship programme at Alberta Theatre Centre. He later obtained his diploma in Theatre Technology from Mount Royal College. This permitted him to be involved in the technical aspect of movie making where he was involved in photography, prop work, special effects camera work, and stunt man. He was involved in a number of films, among which we find Clint Eastwoods blockbuster, Unforgiven, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (the television series), Legend of the Fall and the Japanese film epic, Heaven and Earth. At age 19, he persuaded his brothers and father to try parachute jumping with him. This quickly evolved into his avocation and he developed rapidly in the sport where he was respected as one of the most avid and enthusiastic participants. He combined his talent and knowledge of photography and cameraman and became an aerial photographer. His desire to always produce the best and his ability to diagnose and innovate in order to produce the best soon made him a sought-after commodity amongst the skydiving community, locally as well as internationally. He spent a number of winters in Eloi, Arizona, filming European national skydiving teams. It was in the capacity of aerial photographer that he attended at Drumheller when a mishap claimed the life of a skydiver who was renown for his enthusiasm as well as for his meticulous attention to detail where his or the safety of a fellow parachutist was involved. He will be greatly missed by his fellow skydivers. Besides skydiving, he was involved in cycling, rock climbing, snowboarding, and drawing. He loved nature and all which was beautiful. Little children were a joy for him. His love for children became manifest particularly after the birth of his nephew Eric which whom he could spend hours entertaining as much as being entertained by him. His most endearing feature was a ready wit and an ever present and engaging smile. Besides his parents, Denis and Julie, he is survived by two brothers, Gerald from Ottawa, Ontario, and Francois (Isabelle), his only nephew Eric from Edmonton; both his grandmothers, Esther Hudon of St. Boniface, Manitoba and Leontine Meilleur of Fisher Branch, Manitoba, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Also mourning his untimely demise is special friend, Janet Tucker. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers at Saint Lukes Catholic Church (corner of Northmount Drive and Northland Drive N.W.) on Thursday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be concelebrated at Saint Lukes on Friday, September 15 with the Rev. Kazimierz Olesky SDS, Rev. Bill Concoran and Rev. Michael Duggan, Celebrants. To e-mail expressions of sympathy: condolences@mcinnisandholloway.com Subject heading: Jean-Guy Meilleur. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to S.T.A.R.S. (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society), Box 570, 1441 Aviation Park N.E., Calgary, Alberta, T2E 8M7. Telephone (403) 295-1811. In living memory of Jean-Guy Meilleur, a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Valley by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, "Park Memorial Chapel", 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE (403) 243-8200. In life, you flew. In death, Fly! Fly Big Kahoona! With Gods Angels, Fly! To the arms of your Lord and Saviour That He may grant you everlasting Peace Comfort, Joy and Love eternal

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 13, 2000