A Man for All Seasons

By Jim Hill

An Institution in James Bay is no longer.

For the past 7 years Dan Barkley sat on the little wall on Simcoe St. outside the parking lot of Parliament Mews. Every morning rain or shine, Dan was there to have a few words with the folks passing by, or people would stop and chat and share a coffee to pass the time with him.

When you greeted Dan with a "good morning," he would call you by name. He never forgot a voice or a name. My friend Ginger Weise's granddaughter, Alison, was visiting and we introduced her to Dan. One year later when she returned to visit, she asked her grandmother to take her to visit Dan. She saw him and said "Hello Dan." He immediately replied "Hello Alison." This was truly amazing, as Dan was blind.

He never begged for money. If people were generous, he showed his appreciation with a great big "Thank-You." All donations were genuinely appreciated.

Dan had a friend, Rene, who lived in the Lord Simcoe Apartments. Every day Rene took him a sandwich as well as treats to take home. One day Rene did not appear. Several days later Dan became so concerned that he went to the building managers and asked them to check on her. He was saddened to hear she had passed away in her apartment.

Dan's friend, Colin Griffin, always made sure he arrived safely to his spot at the wall by the Parliament Mews and at the end of each day, on his own, Dan confidently counted his steps back home.

Dan passed away suddenly on November 1. He will be missed by all his friends and acquaintances at James Bay's Five Corners.