Everyone deals with loss in their own way. I prefer to write to help bring order and meaning to my thoughts.

June 19 will mark the six-month anniversary of the horrific event in Logy Bay that rattled our Atlantic pharmacy team to the core. Dave Collins was taken from us much too soon, and the open criminal investigation that resulted will not provide any sense of closure for the foreseeable future. The waves of emotional tumult have softened somewhat, but can still crash into you at the most inopportune times.

Six months on, there has been some healing. Six months on, there has been reflection. If there is reference to a silver lining, it’s that Dave was the furthest thing from a divisive or controversial figure; he was universally liked for his charm and his caring for others. For the same reasons he is so sorely missed, it is near impossible to think of him in a negative light.

His contributions to the pharmacy community are expansive, including being a longtime member and former Board member for the Pharmacy Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. The outpouring of support for Dave’s legacy has been remarkable. Notably, Memorial University in St. John’s, has established an student award, the ‘David J. Collins Memorial Award In Pharmacy’ to honour him each and every year. In April, a bowling fundraiser was held to help establish that award, with teams from NS and Corner Brook (~700km away) in attendance to celebrate his life. I had the pleasure of meeting some of them during my recent trip in March. This picture speaks for itself, provided by Lawtons Drugs own Steadman Bowers:

Bringing people together is what Dave always did. That’s not conjecture or an exaggeration, I really do mean always. No matter the circumstances, Dave was the single most consistently optimistic person I have ever met. So much so, that we would routinely poke fun at him (always in a good-natured way). We would predict his reaction to catastrophic events, just to see how he could possibly see any sliver of light in the darkness. He never let us down. Usually with a 70’s rock-n-roll lyric in tow, his philosophical candor brightened the room every time.

Six months later, I work hard every day to use those lessons to inspire others. We don’t want to panic when faced with adversity, but lean on each other, and value each other’s strengths. Without fail, we’ll always be stronger in the end.

“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.” – John Lennon

Dave – we know you’re still with us, wanting us to be better professionals, better teammates, and better people. Save us all a beer where you are; we look forward to sharing a pint when we see you again. We’ll need our sunglasses; you’ll be outshining the lights up above just as you did down below.

Six months later, the silver lining is that you’re changing us for the better…

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.