Roy
McFarlaneRoy
McFarlaneRest in Peace Roy McFarlane, July 28, 2001
Letter to the Editor, June 3
Posters Needed Out of Town, May 29
Video Footage & Photo with Jacket now available, May
24
Search Intensifies for Roy McFarlane, May 22
Help Needed in Search for Well-Known Victoria Man, May
20
Rest
in Peace, Roy McFarlaneJuly 28, 2001
I am sorry to let you know that our dear friend Roy McFarlane is dead. It has not been possible to phone all of you in person.
Roy's body was found in the Inner Harbour of Victoria, near where he was last seen the evening of Monday, May 14. He was found wearing his bicycle helmet, and foul play is not suspected. It sounds very much like Roy had an accident or sudden trauma (such as an aneurysm), and fell into the ocean that fatal Monday night.
Roy will always be remembered, fondly. He had so many special qualities, admired by all. He was a warm, caring and generous individual, as quick to help a friend, as to work for a better society. He was never too busy to lend an ear or help out. Many a time, Roy helped me through a difficult situation. Always patient and wise. He had a playful manner, and loved living. He led a rich and hopeful life until the moment he died.
I never heard anyone say anything that wasn't nice about Roy. He was so friendly and giving to everyone he met. I always admired his cool head and easygoing, jovial manner. I wish to be as gentle and peaceful as he.
In his short 45 years, Roy made a tremendous difference to his community, and those around him, even to those who barely knew him.
I met Roy 20 years ago at Operation Dismantle, then Canada's largest peace organization. WIthout pay, he worked day and night for world peace-- a task he continued in recent years as a Director of the Victoria Peace Centre.
Roy worked in and managed many bookstores in his career-- in Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. He cared passionately for the written and spoken word, and established a very successful weekly poetry series in Victoria, "Sundays at the JBI". His hard work led to a Canada Council grant, which will help the series expand this fall, now under the direction of his friends. Sadly he did not live to hear the good news of his Canada Council Grant. Unfortunately, he will not have the opportunity to become a full-time arts promoter, as he was working towards.
Roy McFarlane was active in several election campaigns over the years, both with the NDP and Green parties. In Victoria, he very successfully managed the Green's campaign for Victoria-Beacon Hill during the recent provincial election, even while holding down a full-time job at Munro's Books. Over 20% of people in his riding voted Green. Perhaps the largest Green vote anywhere, ever, in Canada.
He was concerned about environmental degradation, and put his hands where his heart was. In Victoria, Roy was active on the pesticides front-- working to stop aerial and lawn spraying. Many will also remember his wonderful organizing of several of Victoria's finest Earth Walk celebrations.
Roy was a deeply spiritual person, and accepted death as part of life. Roy did not fear death, and believed that his spirit would continue on its long journey after he passed away.
I miss Roy dearly, as I am sure do many of you. He was a great friend, and a tireless worker for a better world.
His loss is our loss. The world is poorer today.
I will always remember you, dear friend, until the day I join you in death.
Rest in Peace, Roy McFarlane.
Al Rycroft
Thank you to the many hundreds who have cared, postered and searched for Roy. Your hope and help have been of great inspiration to Roy's family and close friends.
There will be a memorial service for Roy this coming Wednesday at 4 pm at St. Ann's Academy in Victoria. An informal gathering will take place at the James Bay Inn immediately afterward, where people can say a few words and share reminiscences about him. In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to make a donation in Roy's name to your favourite organization, or the Search & Rescue Society of BC.
Those of you who have photos or video of Roy you would like to share, please bring them to the memorial service or e/mail them. Kealey will be preparing a video about Roy's life, and may need to borrow your pictures for a few weeks.
Could you please take down any posters you have put up or left at stores?
Again-- thank you all.
We wish you peace,
Al Rycroft & Kealey Pringle
June 3, 2001
Our family cannot express sufficiently the deep gratitude that we feel towards the media, the police, and the hundreds of volunteers who have poured so much energy into finding our brother, Roy McFarlane.
We continue to receive offers of support from Victoria and throughout the province from both friends and strangers, acts of compassion which are a testament to Roy and his community.
We recognize that time is dimming the spotlight on the story of his disappearance, but we acknowledge that the decreased media attention may benefit the chances of his return.
Thank you for the dignity that you have accorded to this story, and to the respect for privacy that you have bestowed upon our family.
Len McFarlane
May 29, 2001
We still
do not know where Roy McFarlane is, and the police do not have any strong leads
as to his whereabouts. He has been missing for two weeks now, since Monday,
May 14.
Those of you from out of town, or leaving town briefly, can help too. Please print out posters from this Web site and put them around the city/town you live. In particular, place them where Roy is likely to see them: coffee shops, grocery stores, pubs with live music/readings, libraries, soup kitchens, shelters, retreats, churches, parks, farming communities, literary events, downtown, hydro poles, etc. We find that shop owners and public buildings are very willing to put them up if asked nicely. Please call Lenora at (250) 598-4204 to let us know where you have postered.
At this time, we are particularly in need of posters in the Lower Mainland (esp. downtown Vancouver, Commercial Drive region, Burnaby, Burnaby Lake, SFU and Cultus Lake), the Okanagan (Penticton especially), and the USA, particularly Seattle-Port Angeles, down the coast and New Orleans.
Thank you to the hundreds of local friends and colleagues who have been postering and walking around looking for Roy and his bicycle. Posters are still available from Munro's Books downtown. If you can help in the physical search, please call Al Rycroft at 592-8307 or email rycroft@SunshineCommunications.ca .
If you have any information on Roy or his bicycle, call police at (250) 995-7654. A description can be found below.
We are optimistic Roy will find us. It has been a stressful and exhausting six months for him. Hopefully, he just had to escape to recover, and is far enough away that he may not even be aware that we are searching for him.
May 24, 2001
Video footage of Roy McFarlane taken in 1996 is available to members of the media by calling (250) 592-8307, or emailing rycroft@SunshineCommunications.ca . It is recommended that you call.
A high-resolution photograph that was taken just three days before Roy McFarlane disappeared is available.
The following photograph is several years old, but shows Roy McFarlane in the dark blue windbreaker he is believed to be wearing. The jacket appears to have a Pacific Trekking label similiar to the one below.
Information: www.justicewalk.ca
Len McFarlane, (250) 480-1234
Alan Rycroft, (250) 592-8307
Victoria Police, (250) 995-7654
Search Intensifies for Roy McFarlane
For Urgent & Immediate Release: May 22, 2001
Victoria- The search for Roy McFarlane intensified over the weekend as hundreds of friends and volunteers put up posters and searched for Roy and his bicycle. Friends and family are appealing for more volunteers from the public to help in the search.
"Roy has been missing for over a week," said Roy McFarlane's brother Len, "and we are more worried about him every day. We are concerned that he may have fallen off his bicycle or been injured in some other way. We need to find Roy as soon as possible."
Police have received over a dozen tips from the public. Anyone with information that may help in the search is asked to call Victoria Police at (250) 995-7654 or CrimeStoppers at 386-TIPS.
"Roy literally has hundreds of friends and colleagues who miss him dearly. They have been postering and searching for Roy and his bicycle," said close friend Alan Rycroft. "But more volunteers are needed, especially now that the long weekend is over."
Anyone wishing to help is asked to call (250) 592-8307. Posters are available at Munro's books or online at www.justicewalk.ca .
Roy McFarlane is 45 years old, about 5'6" and 175 pounds with light blue eyes, and has short salt and pepper hair with a grey goatee. He is assumed to be wearing a dark blue windbreaker and brown leather shoes. He was riding a dark blue/royal purple men's Kuhahara mountain bike with black fenders, and wearing a sleek metallic grey or blue bike helmet.
Roy McFarlane is a well-known Victoria arts and community activist and event organizer, who was last seen in downtown Victoria on his bicycle at 9 pm Monday, May 14, heading south on Store Street near Swans Pub.
Roy McFarlane is known throughout Victoria for his work with the Green Party, the annual Earth Walk, several environmental and peace causes, and his production of the weekly poetry series "Sundays at the JBI" (James Bay Inn). He is also a bookseller at Munro's Books.
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NOTE: A high-resolution photograph that was taken
just three days before Roy McFarlane disappeared is available.
Information: www.justicewalk.ca
Len McFarlane, (250) 480-1234
Alan Rycroft, (250) 592-8307
Victoria Police, (250) 995-7654
Help Needed in Search for Well-Known Victoria Man
For Urgent & Immediate Release: May 20, 2001
Victoria-- Friends and family are seeking help from the public in the search for Roy McFarlane, 45, a well-known Victoria community activist and event organizer who has not been seen since 9 pm Monday, May 14.
Roy McFarlane, the Campaign Manager for a local candidate in the provincial election, and a bookseller at Munro's Books, gave no prior indication that he was about to leave and has not contacted family, friends or his employer since he went missing. He was last seen riding his bike southbound on Wharf Street at Pandora at about 9 pm Monday.
"We have no idea what has happened, but we all know something is wrong because Roy would never disappear without informing his employer or making other arrangements," said his brother Len McFarlane. "This is completely out of character and came without warning. We're asking the public to come forward with any information or assistance that may help us find Roy or his bicycle."
Roy McFarlane is known throughout Victoria for his work with the Green Party, the annual Earth Walk, several environmental and peace causes, and his production of the weekly poetry series "Sundays at the JBI" (James Bay Inn). Originally from Montreal, he moved to Victoria from Toronto in 1996, is employed at Munro's Books, and is well known in literary circles and the book business.
Roy McFarlane is 45 years old, about 5'6" and 175 pounds with light blue eyes, and has short salt and pepper hair with a grey goatee. He is assumed to be wearing a dark blue windbreaker and brown leather shoes. He was riding a dark blue/royal purple men's Kuhahara mountain bike with black fenders, and wearing a sleek metallic grey or blue bike helmet. He is often seen at literary events and frequents several pubs in the city, including Swans and the James Bay Inn.
Members of the public with information on Roy McFarlane's disappearance should contact Victoria police at 995-7654, CrimeStoppers at 386-TIPS, and/or Alan Rycroft at 592-8307. Posters are available at Munro's Books (1108 Government Street) or online at www.justicewalk.ca .
"The volunteers searching for Roy are incredible," said Alan Rycroft, one of Roy McFarlane's closest friends. "Already over 100 people are working hard in the search." Members of the public who would like to poster or join the search are asked to call 592-8307, or email rycroft@SunshineCommunications.ca .
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NOTE: A high-resolution photograph that was taken just three days before Roy McFarlane disappeared is available.
Information: www.justicewalk.ca
Len McFarlane, (250) 480-1234
Alan Rycroft, (250) 592-8307
Victoria Police, (250) 995-7654
A Few Links:
Memorial and Tribute
High Resolution photo (roy.bmp) of Roy McFarlane (700 K)
PosterSundays at the JBI (poetry nights)
Walk for Global Justice / Earth Walk