Bert Weir (Albert George b. 1925, Sandwich ON) passed away March 23, 2018 (McKellar ON).

When he could no longer pick up a pencil Bert said to Joy “I can’t draw any more, so what’s the point of being here?” It was why he did all else. It was what made him breathe in and out. Making art was life to Bert. He was a doer until the very end.

Bert spent his lifetime in the bush in Northern Ontario on a quest to depict the beauty, power and reality of nature in paint. His passion for the flow of energy between himself and the delicate ecosystem of nature and his emotional response to it has been his life’s work. Bert’s deep connection to nature, both spiritually and physically was the core to his being.

Bert leaves his wife, Joy Allan, daughters Sky (Rob Ward), Wave (Otto Schuele) and Reed (Brian Banfield), grandchildren Rain Watson Bain (Rory), Leaf Watson (Tanya) and Teslin Ward, great grandchildren Anna and Sam (Bain), nephews Peter Tripp and James Weir, nieces Christine Popelas and Wendy Easton and many other nieces and nephews. Bert was predeceased by his first wife Elena Zebrauskaite-Weir in 1995, his beloved sister Edith Mary Tripp in 1996, brother Jim (James) Weir 2006 and parents Emily and Percival Weir.

We would like to thank Dr. Kim Warwick for her years of care. Bert would tell stories of their first meeting and how Elena (Bert’s first wife) had insisted that this young girl was the doctor for them. Elena was right.

Bert has changed the course of many lives. He is missed but he will continue to live through his work and ideas and through those who have been touched by his infectious energy and love for life. There are so many who were very important to Bert, our thoughts are with you.

There will be Memorial to Bert on April 8, 2018 in McKellar starting at noon. It is being held at Wave and Otto’s Strawbale Gallery, 3 Lakeside Drive, McKellar. We will be celebrating an amazingly long and uniquely eventful life. Anyone wishing to speak, sing, recite, dance, play music, drum, paint or simply pray are invited to participate (you know Bert, anything goes!). Let us come together to share our memories of a truly amazing man.

As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Georgian Bay Biosphere, or the Ardeleana Chamber Music Society (Bert Weir Memorial) would be appreciated.

Condolences

Mr. Weir and Mr. Bob Monks had been my art teachers at W.D. Lowe tech. high school from 1961 to 1965. I'm very saddened by both their loses but maintain great joy when reminiscing over the wonderful time spent with both these extremely talented mentors that gave so much to so many. Both were true artists to their untimely end. My deepest condolences to their families.
Sincerely, Mike Zdunich