Farewell 

Albert Millaire
1935 – 2018
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Albert Millaire defined himself as a Montrealer. He graduated from Montreal’s Dramatic Art Conservatory, had a fulfilling 60-year career and was a brilliant wide-range actor. He was a well-regarded director and known by all on television. He believed theatre created a better world. He commissioned new plays yet he never neglected his love of classics. He toured the country promoting the great authors to many audiences, which became “Mes amours de personnages,” his autobiographical book. He defended the French language. He was involved with the Union des artistes and chaired the Canadian Council on the Status of the Artist. His musical knowledge allowed him to stage operas and musical comedies. He was a narrator in musical productions.
 
Theatre was Albert’s life. He travelled the world to see productions. His mellifluous voice was known in both cultures. Albert was a generous and elegant host, a caring friend and family man. He enjoyed cooking and a good laugh.  He was both altruistic and joyful, a man of the heart. He will be dearly missed.
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Fred Napoli
1936 – 2018
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Fred Napoli was a part of my life, and possibly yours, for over fifty years. We worked alongside each other at CKFM and CFRB, met up frequently in the CBC corridors when I was recording programs and he was doing the late newscasts, and off the air shared memories and regrets that radio was no longer the medium we'd grown up loving.
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Many will also remember Fred's passion for singing and the piano, both of which he was able to put to use professionally. Toronto radio fans still recall his overnight programs and, particularly, his short stories. His 1990 collection of autobiographical essays, “Re-Inventing Myself,” is still in demand. And, as a voice-over master, he provided classic narrations, sold you Oldsmobiles or Dare Cookies, quietly reminded you of the work of the Salvation Army at Christmas, and soothingly offered "a little warmth for your miserable cold" (Neo-Citran). 
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The final word belongs to the proprietor of Toronto's Uptown Nut House who called him "the guy with the voice…who wrote that book."
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David Petersen 
1947 – 2018

Early in his career, David Petersen was cast in the title role of Zale Dalen’s independent film Skip Tracer. The movie received a standing ovation at the New York Film Festival premiere and agents literally climbed onto the stage looking for a way to contact David. Meanwhile, he was running around Alberta with the Caravan Stage Company in a coyote costume with enlarged genitalia. He loved his craft and the world of agents and New York glitter couldn't call him away. 
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In the 1960s he studied theatre at the University of British Columbia and was a founding member of the Tamahnous Theatre collective. David’s extensive film and TV work included The Grey Fox, The Beachcombers, First Blood and The X-Files. David was an avid stargazer, science enthusiast, fierce scrabble player, songwriter, director, prolific collage artist, dramaturge, loyal friend, loving husband, doting father and grandfather. And now oh how we all shall miss him.
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Douglas Rain
1928 – 2018
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Joe and I met Douglas when he ran the National Theatre School. Our respect for him was so great, he terrified us every time he slipped into a rehearsal room, to observe, off in the corner. His dedication to the text and to the craft was a huge influence on us all. And yet, a few years later when I had the chance to tour with him in The Dining Room, he was so relaxed and playful with a wicked little twinkle in his eye, forever denying that he had sent the rest of the cast into paroxysms of laughter on stage. And what a charming dinner companion, and cribbage player, and day-off-event-planner. He wouldn’t take a penny of rent from me when I was at Stratford. He gave me his home while he was at Shaw for the season.
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Marti Maraden wrote to me after Douglas’s passing, “I know he was dear to you as he was to me, and I have often thought about ‘we few we happy few’ who were allowed near. Weren’t we lucky.”
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Gerrick Winston
1970 – 2018
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The Alberta screen industry lost a major force in early December with the sudden passing of Gerrick Winston.  Gerrick left an impression on everyone who met him.  This was clear on his Facebook page once the unfortunate news broke. Over 800 comments appeared stating how he had made an impact, how he was always there to help and how they would miss his smile.

Gerrick served two terms on the ACTRA Alberta Council as Member at Large and Vice President South. He was also very active in the independent film community, most recently serving on the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers. He was a mentor to so many. Always there to help and to lend a hand with a great big smile and incredible kindness. Gerrick will be missed across our community and by anyone who was fortunate enough to call him a friend.