Gordon Halloran Battles Cancer

We're asking you to support our good friend and world-renowned Sunshine Coast artist, playwright, and filmmaker Gordon Halloran in his battle with cancer, and ensure his wife Caitlin, daughter Lori, and son Jaz know we are here for all of them. Gord was diagnosed in August with oral squamous cell carcinoma that has resulted in his admittance to Sechelt General Hospital in September to deal with his nutritional needs and pain management. Thankfully, an MRI has shown the cancer has not yet spread to other organs and he is scheduled for surgery at the end of October to remove the cancerous tissue. The recovery process will be long and difficult with much therapy required to talk and eat again. Follow-up cancer treatments will most likely be required once the surgery is completed.

Life as an artist, writer, film director, and playwright is immensely fulfilling but doesn't provide financial security. Of course, the major treatment costs are mostly covered by our provincial medical system, and he is supported by a wonderful team of qualified healthcare practitioners, but setbacks like this require assistance with many other costs including complementary treatments for physical, mental and emotional healing, specialized experimental oncology tests and treatments not covered by MSP, travel and accommodation costs for the family during upcoming surgery in Vancouver, and extended care services during the long recovery process. Our goal is $20,000 towards these unplanned expenses.

Your friendship is so important right now to help Gord through this challenging time. Many of you know Gord through his artistic and theatrical activities, and maybe through his involvement in the competitive tennis and hockey communities on the coast. You might even recall seeing one of his movies, "Singing the Bones" (2001) or "Body of Light" (2016). The latter prescient film explores the mystery of healing, its effect on our relationships with one another and with ourselves, a journey that celebrates community. Your support and words of encouragement at this time will go a long way in raising his spirits and letting him know we are there for him.

Gord has been an active art, writing, film and theater contributor on the Sunshine Coast for more than 30 years. He is the creator of Paintings Below Zero, monumental public art installations in ice. Check them out at https://gordonhalloran.com/public-art. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Gord was Canada’s official representative to the Cultural Olympiad where his site-specific installation filled an entire church with a myriad of brilliantly coloured works in ice called Pitture Sotto Zero. In Chicago, he created the 200-foot long Museum of Modern Ice. And at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, audiences were fascinated by his 100-foot long wall of frozen paintings called Ice Gate. His sculpture "Regeneration" (2015) in Spirit Square in Sechelt honours tree faller John Phare who lost his life fighting the Old Sechelt Mine Fire. His large public mural "Catch of the Day" (1997) at the corner of Wharf Ave. and Cowrie St. recreates a 1912 photograph featuring a European settler alongside several Shíshálh fishermen. Gord started his career as an award-winning Canadian illustrator known across the country for his cover paintings for Maclean’s Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The CBC, The Financial Post, Toronto Life Magazine and San Francisco Magazine. His paintings, drawings and prints hang in many public and private collections worldwide.

Gord has given so much to the local community, and this is our opportunity to show our appreciation. Your contributions of any size and your messages of support and hope for Gord will be greatly appreciated.