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June 21, 2006 marks the 3-year anniversary of the passing of Roger Neilson
June 21, 2006 marks the 3-year anniversary of the passing of Roger Neilson. Over the past 3 years, Roger's legacy has been strengthened by the construction and opening of Roger's House; a dream just 36 months ago has turned into a reality thanks to the generosity, compassion and support of thousands of people.
This anniversary of Roger's passing is a time to miss our friend, but also a time to celebrate what he helped accomplish at Roger's House. It was Roger's reputation as a coach, mentor, gentleman, philanthropist and perhaps most importantly, a compassionate and caring man that helped build the pediatric palliative care facility bearing his name. It is virtually unprecedented for a project of this scope to be completely funded and constructed in such a short period of time. This could only be done with the generosity and dedication of the many companies, organizations and individuals who came together to help children and families dealing with progressive, life-limiting illnesses.
Like Roger, people have selflessly given of their time and money to build Roger's House. Now that the construction phase is complete, Roger's House is open and operating for those families who need help the most. A heartfelt THANK YOU to every person and company who has already donated their time, financial resources or expertise to build Roger's House. Each day, the donations and community-based events continue to raise much-needed financial support for the operational expenses of Roger's House and we thank you for your on-going generosity.
Roger's House has been proudly built by hundreds of construction companies and literally over 1,000 volunteer workers. The local construction community who built Roger's House has built a facility worthy of Roger Neilson's name and reputation. Now, the professional and caring staff of Roger's House is taking the next step in caring for children and families in a very special environment. The feedback from the families who have already benefited from Roger's House has been heartwarming and touching; together YOU have made, and will continue to make a difference.
Roger Neilson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and named as a Member of the Order of Canada, both honours he humbly but proudly accepted. Roger never sought the limelight or the attention, yet he was a man of great profile and public stature; something which he used not for his own benefit, but for those around him that he loved. That example has not been lost on the donors and volunteers who built Roger's House. Today and every day, Roger's House stands as an accomplishment of a community as well as permanent recognition of a man we loved and miss dearly.
Let's continue to celebrate the life of Roger Neilson and remember the lessons that he taught us about compassion, caring and helping others; all guiding principles of Roger's House today. We miss you Roger!
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