Two Winnipeg sisters honour their father’s legacy through random acts of kindness
Sisters Kay Lizon and Jessica Boittiaux remember their father's Canada Day parties very well, even though it has been nearly three decades since the last one.
“Dad started off by throwing on some fireworks and a couple of kids were kind of watching through the fence," said Lizon, adding the family was living in the area near Stella and Salter. "Dad said, 'no come on in and have some barbecue!' and the next year there were even more kids."
A few years later, the party outgrew the Boittiaux family's backyard and they had to migrate to a nearby parking lot.
The annual community event only grew larger, with local businesses, food vendors, and live entertainment joining in, and, by 1994, would take over the field by a nearby school for a day-long Canada Day celebration.
"We were competing with the Forks," said Lizon.
1994 would be the last summer celebration organized by Gary Boittiaux. At the end of April the following year, he passed away and, for a while, Gary Boittiaux's summer tradition of giving back to the community ended.
That is, until 2011, when Boittiaux's daughters decided to change seasons on their father's tradition, by carrying out random acts of kindness during Winnipeg's coldest months.
"The Gary Effect" was born.
"We're not trying to solve any complex problems or anything," said Jessica Boittiaux, "But we do believe that if you do one small act it will pass its way to other people."
That is, in essence, the core concept driving The Gary Effect: Do something that will benefit someone, anyone in the community and, in turn, they will do the same for someone else.
"It's evolved from something personal between us and just wanting to remember Dad," said Lizon, "To that core of what dad saw and inspired in the community."
"He did that for us so it's really cool to see that he's doing that for other people," said Boittiaux.
During The Gary Effect's first campaign - where the sisters and a group of friends handed out Christmas gifts to families in the North End - Lizon and Boittiaux quickly learned they weren't the only kids who fondly remember their father's Canada Day event.
"We were meeting people saying, 'I remember your dad,'" said Boittiaux, "What a lovely way to keep his memory alive."
"They remembered the events he threw."
Over the years, the random acts of kindness (or "ROKs" as the sisters have abbreviated) carried out by The Gary Effect have taken many forms, from clothing and food donations to Easter egg hunts to this past holiday season when Lizon and Boittiaux placed free gifts for Winnipeggers to find all around the city.
"We're trying not to get stuck in the mould of every year we're going to go door to door," said Lizon. "The whole thing behind this is the element of surprise."
Eventually, the sisters hope to bring their father's Canada Day parties back to the North End.
"We would love to host a huge community event," said Boittiaux, "We want to see those kids in adulthood and see who remembers Dad."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.