Gary came to BFO-Toronto for support after the loss of his daughter Kelly in June 1992. After attending a mixed group, he was invited to take facilitator training which he completed in the fall of 1993. Gary facilitated groups, did one-on-one interviews and spoke at family support nights for BFO-Toronto. He was invited to join their Parental Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors. By this time Gary had moved to Pickering and began volunteering for BFO-Durham, facilitating several groups and one-on-one interviews. After becoming a member of BFO-Durham’s first Board of Directors, it became too time consuming to volunteer for both affiliates.
Gary continues on the BFO-Durham Board as its Chair, conducts facilitator training and on occasion is still an active facilitator. Gary has a certificate in Bereavement Education from the Canadian Centre for Bereavement Studies and has shared that knowledge presenting at conferences, other community organisation events and of course family support nights. Gary spent a year as Coordinator of BFO-Durham before paid staff could be hired and was part of the committee that established the children and youth support programs. Gary was the Recipient of the Susan E. Hendrick’s Volunteer of Distinction Award in 2002.