Gary Sealey

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1942—2019

Gary was born in Gimli Manitoba to Roberta (Sally) and William Sealey, raised in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, B.C.

He was the founding president of the Lambda Foundation for Excellence, Club Moustache (Time Out) and organized a literary festival, Wilde about Sappho, for many years. Gary also wrote the constitution for EGALE, supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Gary inspired the establishment of the second Century Conservation Club, advocating access to the Chutes des Chaudiere, initiating the establishment of the Canada Parks Day, contributing to the Historic Classification of Parks of Ontario and naming and founding Fathom Five park, the first underwater park in Canada, as well as the Peterborough Petroglyph Park, which he helped acquire and plan for public use. Gary worked at Parks Canada for 25 years as Director of Interpretation and Visitor Services for the Parks Program.

On retirement from the federal Government he worked for Friends of the Earth and the United Nations Association in Canada organizing a global conference in Quebec City, and a year later assisted with the NGO gathering in Rome (1996) for the UN"World Food Summit. One of the most imaginative events that Gary organized was the "Moderator's Forum on Faith and the Economy on Parliament Hill, chaired by the Rt. Rev. Bill Phipps. Gary also held positions as World President and Peace Secretary for Servas International. He was also President of the Tour Guides Association for Ottawa.

He worked tirelessly for the Beaverbrook Community Association and was awarded the Order of Ottawa in 2014. Gary also served as Director - Member of the Board of the Prostate Cancer Canada Network Ottawa.

Taken from his obituary in the Ottawa Citizen.