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49 · Saturday, December 26, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Insight into the person behind memorial mural By Liam Goodman GRADE 10, T. A. BLAKELOCK H.S. I lost a good friend to violence last summer and it tore me apart. Jesse Comeau was the kind of person everyone should be fortunate to have as a friend. Jesse's death left a big hole in the lives of many, especially his friends at Blakelock. The school had decided to do something as a remembrance, but nothing definite was planned and then Jeff Wykes, a mutual friend approached me and asked if I would consider painting a mural in memory of Jesse -- absolutely. No question. The idea at first was to paint on a 4'x4' board, but Jesse was larger than that -- he deserved a full wall and that's what he got. For that support, we all thank Mr. Caughlin and the T.A.Blakelock staff. The mural was my opportunity to express the feelings I had, and still have for a guy who was larger than life. Jesse was a world champion athlete and a world-class guy. I felt so privileged to be asked to do the memorial. The project took me just over four weeks. It was a great challenge and I must also give credit for the support I received from Jeff and from Ms. Jan Boileau, our art teacher. Essay contest deadline approaches The Oakville Optimist Club is waiting for essays to roll in from students competing for cash prizes in its 2009/10 Essay Contest. The contest is now open and will remain so until Dec. 31. The topic is The Internet -- Today's Evolution of Tomorrow's Menace? The prizes are Canada Savings Bonds worth $500, $350 and $150 for the top three finishers. First place finisher will be entered by the local service club to a district contest where a $2,500 scholarship is available to the winner. An international competition will carry scholarships worth up to $6,000. The annual contest is open to youths in Grade 7 to 12 who are under age 19. Essays must be no more than 500 words. Submission specifications are available at the club's website at www.oakvilleoptimistclub.com and are available through local schools and the YMCA of Oakville. To date, however, contest chair Mike Hoshooley said entries are slow rolling in. "With prize scholarships/ monies of $1,000, $2,500 and $6,000 available at club, district and international levels respectively, I find it hard to believe we can't stimulate students to enter and compete for these prizes," said Hoshooley. Sponsored by the Optimist Club of Oakville, which has been serving Oakville youths since 1948, this con- piece of work of which I am proud. More importantly, I know that Jesse would be proud. I tried to capture what Jesse meant to me and all his friends. He was someone I looked up to and the fact that the mural is placed 10' above the hallway means that I will always look up to him. Jesse's family were aware of my efforts and it was they who provided me with the words that Jesse lived by -- integrity, perseverance, courtesy, indomitable spirit and self control. This Tae Kwan Do philosophy There is a reason for everywas personified by Jesse Comeau. thing in Jesse's mural and it is a One of the most amazing things about Jesse was that he was a humble individual. This was an amazing trait because he was a world champion Tae Kwan Do athlete. He was a champion in all he did, athlete and friend. From a personal perspective, Jesse Comeau impacted on me in so many ways; he inspired me, he instilled knowledge and appreciation of what a friend and friendship was all about. I know that many of Jesse's qualities will be with me forever. The mural means that Jesse Comeau lives on. Every day hundreds of Blakelock students will be influenced by him and his words. I am pleased to be the medium through which the memory of this awesome student and friend will be remembered. test is designed to give young people room to develop their own views around a central idea and express them in writing. Full details of the contest are available from the Club's website and rules and applications are downloadable from the website. For more information or entry specifications, visit www.oakvilleoptimistclub.com or contact Hoshooley at 905-634-2531. ARION HOME THEATRE SEATING Reg. $12,599 Now $6188 THE INNOVATORS OF COM- PEGGY'S DISTINCTIVE LADIES FASHIONS VISION CHAIR & OTTOMAN T A Reg. $3499 HUGE BOXING WEEK CLEARANCE CLEARANCE EVENT UP TO Now The Ultimate BOXING DAY EVENT $1588 REDUCED GRANADA R D LOVESEATS O A Now o ALL FLOOR MODELS 50%OFF 2 DAYS ONLY!! 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