Clair is pictured in the photograph on the left, presenting the award in his name to former Board Member Ron Climenhaga.

The cancer cause lost two champions this weekend—one an iconic politician, an eternal optimist and a person trying to make Canada a better place, Jack Layton.

The other was someone not as well known but also eternally optimistic who consistently strove to improve society. We received the unfortunate news that Clair Buckley, a former Chair of our BC and Yukon Board of Directors, passed away.

 I have known Clair for many years and had the privilege of working closely with him. Clair’s energy, enthusiasm and dedication to the cancer cause were exceptional but what was perhaps most extraordinary about him was how he exemplified our Canadian Cancer Society values, so much that we have had an award named in his honour.

 I don’t know if Clair and Jack ever met, but in Jack’s last letter to Canadians, I was sure I heard Clair’s voice.

 Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let’s be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.