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Dave Rogers and Merrill Gleddie were loving and devoted parents who did everything they could to help their struggling son, Cameron, say friends and family.
Gleddie’s uncle Eric Pelz said the slain couple “have been thoroughly compassionate people who strove to put other’s interests above their own. That was certainly true regarding their son Cameron, in every conceivable way.”
Rogers spent 27 years as a reporter at the Citizen. Colleagues came to know him as a valued professional in a hard business: an unassuming reporter who got the job done with no fuss. Cheerful and mild-mannered, Rogers was more interested in producing solid, balanced stories than getting the glory. He took notes in shorthand and kept a pencil perched behind his ear.
“I remember when one assignment editor would be exasperated because there were too many stories and not enough reporters,” says Patrick Dare, a former colleague who now works in legislative support at Ottawa City Hall. “But she was very admiring of Dave because he would always come back with a story. It would be looking grim at 4 o’clock. But at 4:30, in would come Dave with a smile on his face and good story.”
Gleddie, meanwhile, had her own unheralded backstory. In 1973, as 2nd. Lt. Merrill Gleddie, she was among the first women in Canada to undertake full combat training after she was accidentally placed in an all-male qualifying course in Wainwright Alberta.
“And there I was for the entire summer; learning to throw hand grenades, shoot with my FN1 and FN2 rifles, my submachine-gun and pistol, and learning how to become a platoon commander,” she wrote in a 2007 article.
In 1973, Merrill Gleddie was one of the first women in Canada to undergo full combat training.
Gleddie was later a training consultant with the Department of National Defence, designing leadership courses for supervisors, and was the primary curriculum designer of the Defence Learning Catalogue, which is taught on every major base in Canada. In 10 years, more than 5,800 civilians and military members have taken curricula that she designed, said Sara Rylott, a colleague at DND.
“She was incredibly dedicated to ensuring that those of us delivering the material understood it and could apply it,” said Rylott.
Rogers started work at the Citizen in September 1973. Citizen reporter Tom Spears, who then worked for the Ottawa Journal, recalls working with him at city hall around 1979-’80, when Marion Dewar was mayor.
“Dave had the happy ability to be hard-working without losing a sense of fun,” says Spears. “He loved stories about minor crooks and con artists, the quirky side of the news business. I don’t think news ever lost its novelty for him.”
Rogers met Gleddie at the Ottawa Cycling Club and they married in 1982. It was a small wedding attended by friends and family from across North America. Peltz, a Presbyterian minister, conducted part of the ceremony, and Gleddie’s brother Graham was the organist.
Rogers and Gleddie were keen recreational cyclists. They enjoyed frequent trips to France — Gleddie came from a military family, and attended school at No. 2 Fighter Wing in France. They often attended services at the Metropolitan Bible Church.
Rogers learned French as an adult. As one of the few bilingual reporters at the Citizen, he often covered news in West Quebec. He was always happy to share stories in progress with his colleagues.
But there was another side of him that was deeply private.
Colleagues were surprised in 1994 when Rogers, then already about 47 years old, announced that he had become a father for the first time after he and Gleddie adopted a baby boy.
Dave Rogers told colleagues that Cameron had difficulties, but was never specific.
The baby’s name was Cameron, and Rogers threw himself into his new role with the same steadiness and patience he applied to reporting. Rogers was clearly proud of Cameron and delighted to be a father. He spoke of finding an outlet for the boy’s rambunctious energy.
Former Citizen city editor Rob Warner recalls running into Rogers and his young son at the Carleton Heights Community Centre.
“Cameron was just a young guy then, and I remember Dave beaming, so glad to introduce me to his son.”
But Rogers also confided to friends that he was worried about his son. The Citizen’s videographer Scott Parker, who had a son with a disability, became Rogers’s sounding board. He spoke to Parker of difficulties at school and compulsive behaviour, but never named the root of Cameron’s problems.
“He had the right approach to looking after a child like this,” says Parker. “He was so patient and understanding. I don’t remember Dave every getting very upset about anything. Dave did want to make a difference in this kid’s life. And he was clearly thankful to be a father.”
Mohammed Adam, who was hired as a reporter at the Citizen in 1988, immediately struck up a friendship with Rogers. He also remembers Rogers saying that Cameron had “difficulties” and that the boy was prone to violence.
“What he meant, I don’t know. But I didn’t get the sense that Dave was afraid of him.”
Cameron grew quickly. He was a big, strong boy as he entered adolescence.
“One time, Dave said, ‘That kid has too much energy,’ ” says Adam.
Cameron took up soccer and became a goalie. He thrived in the role, then lost interest in soccer. Rogers would sometimes seem frustrated, but he was always willing to try something new, says Adam.
“They gave him all the help they could. I remember him telling me that he was really struggling. But he never regretted the adoption. He said, ‘This is our kid. We love him.’ ”
Gleddie is survived by three brothers, Stephen, Graham and Gordon. Rogers, whose mother died several years ago, had no siblings.
As of Tuesday night, funeral arrangements had not been completed.
Dare bumped into Rogers a few months ago. He and his wife had dinner with Rogers and Gleddie a few months ago. At the time. Cameron was still living at home.
“They were enjoying retirement. They were really, really enjoying life. But they were worried about their son,” says Dare.
“I would say they were thriving in retirement. That’s why this is such as terrible shock.”
With files from Shaamini Yogaretnam
jlaucius@postmedia.com
查看原文...
Gleddie’s uncle Eric Pelz said the slain couple “have been thoroughly compassionate people who strove to put other’s interests above their own. That was certainly true regarding their son Cameron, in every conceivable way.”
Rogers spent 27 years as a reporter at the Citizen. Colleagues came to know him as a valued professional in a hard business: an unassuming reporter who got the job done with no fuss. Cheerful and mild-mannered, Rogers was more interested in producing solid, balanced stories than getting the glory. He took notes in shorthand and kept a pencil perched behind his ear.
“I remember when one assignment editor would be exasperated because there were too many stories and not enough reporters,” says Patrick Dare, a former colleague who now works in legislative support at Ottawa City Hall. “But she was very admiring of Dave because he would always come back with a story. It would be looking grim at 4 o’clock. But at 4:30, in would come Dave with a smile on his face and good story.”
Gleddie, meanwhile, had her own unheralded backstory. In 1973, as 2nd. Lt. Merrill Gleddie, she was among the first women in Canada to undertake full combat training after she was accidentally placed in an all-male qualifying course in Wainwright Alberta.
“And there I was for the entire summer; learning to throw hand grenades, shoot with my FN1 and FN2 rifles, my submachine-gun and pistol, and learning how to become a platoon commander,” she wrote in a 2007 article.
In 1973, Merrill Gleddie was one of the first women in Canada to undergo full combat training.
Gleddie was later a training consultant with the Department of National Defence, designing leadership courses for supervisors, and was the primary curriculum designer of the Defence Learning Catalogue, which is taught on every major base in Canada. In 10 years, more than 5,800 civilians and military members have taken curricula that she designed, said Sara Rylott, a colleague at DND.
“She was incredibly dedicated to ensuring that those of us delivering the material understood it and could apply it,” said Rylott.
Rogers started work at the Citizen in September 1973. Citizen reporter Tom Spears, who then worked for the Ottawa Journal, recalls working with him at city hall around 1979-’80, when Marion Dewar was mayor.
“Dave had the happy ability to be hard-working without losing a sense of fun,” says Spears. “He loved stories about minor crooks and con artists, the quirky side of the news business. I don’t think news ever lost its novelty for him.”
Rogers met Gleddie at the Ottawa Cycling Club and they married in 1982. It was a small wedding attended by friends and family from across North America. Peltz, a Presbyterian minister, conducted part of the ceremony, and Gleddie’s brother Graham was the organist.
Rogers and Gleddie were keen recreational cyclists. They enjoyed frequent trips to France — Gleddie came from a military family, and attended school at No. 2 Fighter Wing in France. They often attended services at the Metropolitan Bible Church.
Rogers learned French as an adult. As one of the few bilingual reporters at the Citizen, he often covered news in West Quebec. He was always happy to share stories in progress with his colleagues.
But there was another side of him that was deeply private.
Colleagues were surprised in 1994 when Rogers, then already about 47 years old, announced that he had become a father for the first time after he and Gleddie adopted a baby boy.
Dave Rogers told colleagues that Cameron had difficulties, but was never specific.
The baby’s name was Cameron, and Rogers threw himself into his new role with the same steadiness and patience he applied to reporting. Rogers was clearly proud of Cameron and delighted to be a father. He spoke of finding an outlet for the boy’s rambunctious energy.
Former Citizen city editor Rob Warner recalls running into Rogers and his young son at the Carleton Heights Community Centre.
“Cameron was just a young guy then, and I remember Dave beaming, so glad to introduce me to his son.”
But Rogers also confided to friends that he was worried about his son. The Citizen’s videographer Scott Parker, who had a son with a disability, became Rogers’s sounding board. He spoke to Parker of difficulties at school and compulsive behaviour, but never named the root of Cameron’s problems.
“He had the right approach to looking after a child like this,” says Parker. “He was so patient and understanding. I don’t remember Dave every getting very upset about anything. Dave did want to make a difference in this kid’s life. And he was clearly thankful to be a father.”
Mohammed Adam, who was hired as a reporter at the Citizen in 1988, immediately struck up a friendship with Rogers. He also remembers Rogers saying that Cameron had “difficulties” and that the boy was prone to violence.
“What he meant, I don’t know. But I didn’t get the sense that Dave was afraid of him.”
Cameron grew quickly. He was a big, strong boy as he entered adolescence.
“One time, Dave said, ‘That kid has too much energy,’ ” says Adam.
Cameron took up soccer and became a goalie. He thrived in the role, then lost interest in soccer. Rogers would sometimes seem frustrated, but he was always willing to try something new, says Adam.
“They gave him all the help they could. I remember him telling me that he was really struggling. But he never regretted the adoption. He said, ‘This is our kid. We love him.’ ”
Gleddie is survived by three brothers, Stephen, Graham and Gordon. Rogers, whose mother died several years ago, had no siblings.
As of Tuesday night, funeral arrangements had not been completed.
Dare bumped into Rogers a few months ago. He and his wife had dinner with Rogers and Gleddie a few months ago. At the time. Cameron was still living at home.
“They were enjoying retirement. They were really, really enjoying life. But they were worried about their son,” says Dare.
“I would say they were thriving in retirement. That’s why this is such as terrible shock.”
With files from Shaamini Yogaretnam
jlaucius@postmedia.com
查看原文...
