John William Foster

In May of 1970 I met a Quebec journalist in Lima Peru who was covering the earthquake. We were getting ready to travel around South America to return to Canada after two years with CUSO in Pomabamba and Huaraz. He suggested that if I wanted to keep in touch with Latin America on my return to Toronto I should get in touch with John Foster at the Latin America Working group there. I did, and that started our 50 year friendship. A friendship which included pressures to bring seven thousand refugees to Canada from Chile, evaluation of ICFID and other Interchurch groups, supporting 300 churches across Canada to promote fairly traded coffee at Lent in 1998, as members of the Oxfam Canada program committee and Oxfam’s support for Bridgehead Coffee - and I can't remember how many other solidarity activities. John encouraged and facilitated innumerable progressive projects, actions, organizations and individuals in Ottawa, Canada and around the world. He has left a legacy of positive change and hope which will encourage this and the next generation of social change activists.

He was my professor at USask in 1997 but quickly became a friend and emotional support. Since then, John remained a constant companion and mentor, helping me to craft a career in law, then diplomacy, and finally, in retirement. It's hard to be eloquent when I still haven't processed his departure. When I moved to Ottawa in 2003, he found me an apartment across the street from his home. I often dropped by for a drink or a meal, and watered his plants during his election-observer trips. Along with international law, he taught me to cruise Hartman's dark aisles for groceries and shoppers. The same man who loved ribald jokes also took me to erudite lectures by Robert Fisk, Max Blumenthal, and innumerable events at the Group of 78. Despite his encyclopedic knowledge and life experience, he had no airs, no pretensions, and was certainly not above a bawdy joke. He was as much at ease on the crowded patio of Centretown Pub, as among the champagne-swilling toffs at the Foreign Service Awards Dinner. My favourite memory is of joining him, Kevin, Dave and Mark as we traipsed through Ottawa's back alleys and surrounding countryside in search of brunch spots. The Wakefield Mill and Pot au Feu (in QC), Mill Street Brew Pub, Lieutenant's Pump, and of course, The Buzz, come to mind. We often took road trips up the River or down to Merrickville or Arnprior to find new spots. Most memorable is a weekend trip to the gorgeous Sand Banks. Always ready for an adventure, always ready with a sympathetic shoulder, always ready to keep me honest when I questioned my values: John defined consistency and loyalty. The sign of a great man is the personal legacy he leaves, regardless of credentials and honours. John was a friend, first and foremost, and then a teacher, mentor and guide. That kind of selflessness reflects the highest calibre. I'm so glad he and Kevin found each other to share such a wonderful and fulfilling life. My thoughts are with Sandra, Johannah, Lexi and Daniella, all of whom I had the pleasure of meeting. I also offer sincere condolences to Mary Jane. But my heart goes out to Kevin, with whom I share so many memories. Wishing you all strength, solace and love at this painful time. But I can just see John raising a pint on the Centretown patio, asking us all to remember the best of his times. A life truly well lived.

I lived at 92 Bedford in the summer of 1973, and re-connected with John at different times in the last 50 or so years. I have a great photo of him having Thanksgiving dinner (with Kevin?) at Maja Kagis' a few years ago, which I'd be happy to share with Joanna, Kevin, Sandra, etc.