Reg Alcock

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Reg Alcock. It was a shock that reverberated throughout the École Tuxedo Park school community. Phone calls were made and e-mails were sent telling of his passing.
When I heard the news, I remembered him participating in school functions, assisting in fund raising and promoting our Little School with a Big Heart.
I remembered him taking the time to speak to me in the hallway just to ask how things were going. He was genuinely interested.
But to me he will always be remembered as Sarah and Christina’s father and Karen’s husband.
Thinking of you during this difficult time,
Diana Fabas-Pirie
Principal of École Tuxedo Park
1990-2004

I have been thinking long and hard about to express what Reg has meant to me. It is very difficult for me to express all that Reg meant to me in words. He has touched so many people, his loss is so sad for community.

Working for him and with him over the years, I got to appreciate his brilliance, his strong social conscience, his commitment to public service and his good humour. Reg was indeed a friend and a mentor. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to know this wonderful person. He was a true inspiration.

Reg, I miss you.

There are no words,that can express, what we all have lost.
I only know that Reg made me want to be a better person.
My thoughts are with you and the children Karen.
There was no star brighter than Reg Alcock.

My wife Jacquie and I met Reg during his first campaign and success as our Liberal Candidate for Winnipeg South. I was extremely honoured: to be invited to Reg’s Advisory Committee; Volunteer as a Poll Captain and Scrutineer and Help with sandbagging during the 1997 Flood here in Winnipeg.

Reg’s Annual Picnic was the best. He always had time to say hello, no matter where.

We consider ourselves friends of the Alcock Family. My daughter Katie is a longtime friend of young Matt Alcock.

Too good of a man to leave us so early. I know God will bless him and his family during this time.

Reg and I were elected for the first time in 1993. We were both Liberal and had some of the same ideals. We often talked and I always appreciated his generosity and sense of humour. I especially remember when in 1997 he went help to stop the waters that were flooding Winnipeg instead of being on he election trail as many others would have been. I was very sad to hear of his passing. Reg was a very special individual and he will be missed. I wish to send my most heartfelt condolences to Reg’s family and friends in the hope that the memories he left will help in this very difficult moment.

Anna Terrana, Member of Parliament fo Vancouver East (1993-1997)

Reg, Karen, Sarah, Mathew, Christina,
I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for the sevice in person, but my heart was with you all and will be forever.Reg has shown me something that I always knew but hadn’t really learned until now. We shouldn’t keep putting off somethings until it is too late and they have passed away from us. I kept thinking I would some day visit all my family in Winnipeg, but never got to it.The thought has been difficult since my mother’s funeral. Now I know it has been my loss.I will make plans to visit you Karen and all the family.Perhaps at a better time when my presence will be of benefit to you.
I at this time send you all my sympathy and love.
Love Aunty Gloria

October 24th, 2011

Reg and I go back to Grade IV at Tuxedo Park School.

Reg was a practical joker like the time he convinced me that he had a new soft drink in his hand for me to try when in actual fact it was water mixed with liquid soap. Tasted awful.

Or the time he got me to try a Cuban cigar by inhaling it and holding the smoke in my lungs as long as I could. Upchucked and never smoked since.

Reg was a kind soul with an inquisitive mind and open to all viewpoints.

We’ll all miss Reg greatly.

Lloyd

( 204 ) 294-6638 – Cell.

I saw Reg this winter in Buffalo Point, where he was working with the Metis Federation. He was a friend of my cousin, Denis Rocan, so we spoke about that. He had a wonderful sense of humour and although he did not know me, he took the time to be considerate and polite. I asked him if he would return to politics and he said he would not. I was happy to see him working with young people. When he worked at the flood during the Flood of the centure, the young people liked him. He had so much to teach them. I just cannot believe he has died. But he left a lot behind.. and he will not be forgotten. RIP>

My and my family’s sincere sympathy to you. Although Joan and I have been long time friends and Reg and I shared many friends and acquaintances in common, we did not get to spend time together until recent months. I thoroughly enjoyed our meetings and conversations about governance and co-presenting with him at the Quality Network conference in the spring. We were looking forward to future collaborations. So many people have already acknowledged his many gifts – his intellect, his compassion, his humour. He truly was a great human being and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know the person behind the public figure.

On behalf of the Hindu Society of Manitoba, I offer our deep felt condolences on this sudden and untimley demise of our beloved Reg Alcock who has been a very strong advocate for our members of the Hindu Society of Manitoba. He has been a strong voice of the Indian community in Ottawa and will surely be missed by all of us.

We pray that God Almighty rest is soul in peace and give you the strength to deal with this tragic loss

Narendra Mathur
President
Hindu Society of Manitoba
999 St. Anne’s Road
Winniepg, MB.
R2N 4G5

My deepest sympathies to the Alcock family. As a community we have losted a dedicated man willing to roll up his sleeves and make difference for the community as a whole. We have all benifited from his willingness to do rather watch from the sidelines.
He will be missed.

Reg was a big man with a bigger heart. He cared and worked hard to make good things happen. He will be greatly missed.My condolenses to the family.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. He was an exceptional man who never put himself first. His dedication to the community will be sorely missed.

I struggle to find the words to epitomize what Reg Alcock meant to me and the impact he had on my life.

I met Reg as a freshly graduated university student, with no direction, and having recently returned from a year abroad. He saw me give a speech at Mohinder Dhillon’s then-campaign office (back in ’99) and immediately approached me. I didn’t even know he was *my* MP! He gave me my first real job. I knew nothing of the world of politics but he took a chance on me and from that moment on, my life took a new direction.

Joining Team Alcock meant EARLY morning meetings (yes, once I actually showed up at his house in slippers and PJs to give him a briefing). He pushed you to your limits, made you defend your position on any subject, but was always respectful when opinions differed. He taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. I remember being overwhelmed with several projects one day and he calmly asked me “How do you eat an elephant?”. I looked at him blankly. He replied “One bite at a time”. To this day whenever I feel over my head, I remember this phrase.

There are so many stories, but I’ll share one that still makes me chuckle. Reg was invited to speak at an Indo-Canadian event, and as his Assistant, I was more than happy to write him a few words. But then I thought, “Let’s really wow the crowd!” so I wrote out a poem in Hindi. It was written phonetically and the 2 of us rehearsed it for days! When time came, he went up to the podium, and delivered the speech in Hindi like he was a poet himself. I was so proud!

After the speeches were done and people were mingling, a lady came up to Reg and said “I can’t believe you said that whole poem in Hindi!….I had no idea what you said, but it sounded great!”

Lol!

I remember driving all over Manitoba with him and Pat during the Martin campaign…I remember the early Saturday morning constituency meetings, the pool tournaments, the Celebrations dinner theatre fundraisers, the fights, the laughs, the Starbucks, the bike rides, the policy meetings, the biennials, the recruitment drives, the 4-day staff meetings (with Excel colored spreadsheets!)….everything I know about politics I learned from Reg.

The biggest compliment Reg ever gave me what saying to me, sitting in the constituency office, “I can see you doing this job Kid.”

I never told you Reg how much you mean to me. How your words impacted my life. I walk around with a permanent lump in my throat. But I know you live on through your children. Thank you so much for the opportunity to work beside you. For the life lessons you taught me. For being my mentor. Rest in peace dear friend.

Karen, my deepest condolences. Reg always held you in such high regard. It was kinda romantic actually….him belting out a list of reminders, but then item 10 would be “buy Karen a gift”.

Sarah, Matty and Chrissy… Words cannot express how deeply sad I feel for your loss. Please know your dad looks down at you from heaven and is proud of the young women and man you have become.

Sending you strength and love,
Rifah

My condolences to Reg Alcock’s family. He was a good person. Our paths crossed a few times when I was kid, a teenager and as an adult. I did not know him well but he had a big impact on my life. The authorities had a hard time to get me to Seven Oaks Center and after three tries, I met Reg my first morning there. He came into the cafeteria and made his rounds asking everyone their names and when he got to me, he patted me on the back and asked me my name in a loud friendly warm fatherly voice. I was 12 years old and I looked up at him and he had a friendly smile and eyes. When I told him my name, his smile got bigger and voice louder and he patted my back again and said nice to finally meet you. He asked me how I was doing, but being the quiet type I did not have much to say. I wish I could remember our conversation but he left me with a good impression of himself as a person. A year a half later, I was at Riding Mountain Park and I saw this tall big man who looked familiar but I could not place where I knew him from and then I remembered. I was going to say hi but then changed my mind and started walking away, and then I changed my mind again and started walking towards him. I stood in front of him looking up at him and I said hi. He did not recognize me at first and then I said my name. He was happy to see and talk with me. To make a longer story shorter, he was happy to hear I was doing well and attended my grade nine graduation. I learned recently he was the Director of Child Welfare at the time. Not a lot of people in his position take the time to personally show support for the kids and those whom work for the system. Our paths crossed a third time when I was an adult. He was campaigning outside Safeway and I approached him to say hi. He invited me to visit him at his campaign office but regretfully I got busy with my own life and never took him up on his offer. He always left me with a good impression of himself as a human being and I am grateful to have crossed paths with him. He has given me faith in the goodness of people.