Help Pierre stand against COVID life struggles.
Donation protected
Hello everyone.
I’m calling for your help. Support and outreach. My dearest friend, Pierre Boutinon had a crapshoot handed him over the last year from covid-19. Today with your support, I am looking to help Pierre from spending yet another night on the streets of France and working toward getting him back on his feet (literally), doing the work he loves for the very people who love him. If Pierre wasn’t living so far from me (me, Canada; him, France), I would give him a room and be by his side to see him through. I firmly believe that real friends don’t forget friends.
A-last, I am here, and he is there; with covid life and restrictions, I won’t be able to fully help him without your kind and generous support. To start, I just want to graciously thank you in advance for your help.
Here it is, I am raising $17,000 to make sure Pierre has a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear and medicine to be well while he currently resides in Segré-en-anjou-bleu far from his home and work-life in Lausanne, Switzerland. Pre-this life-changing incident, he had been an amazing friend, an attentive employee, a successful entrepreneur, a passionate chef and a little brother. He is pretty much the brother I never had (a few years of, he will always be my little brother). If you are interested to know how Pierre and I met and our life story that led you to this page, scroll to the very end of this page and explore our story. For the rest of you, just read below on how your support can truly help Pierre..
How will your support help Pierre?
While his family has cut him off (except for myself), I want to see Pierre do what he loves - detailing cars. With your support, I want to work up Pierre’s confidence to begin making something more with where he is and achieve residency in Switzerland, a mere 8 hours from where he is now. This is where home has been for him for over 6 years.
I’ve put together an organized budget sheet to help Pierre up while he is in France and pull out from the lurch he is in. With your contribution, he just needs a little push to make his way back home where his active client list is patiently waiting on his return. But for now, lets focus getting his foot grounded where he is at, then build up his strength to get back home.
FRANCE PLAN (RAISING $16,560)
1ST & 2ND YEAR
- Bachelor/Studio
- Healthy Meals
- Medications
2ND YEAR+
- Look good for work
- Get to work
SWISS PLAN (YOUR FAITH IN PIERRE WILL BE HIS THANKS)
3RD YEAR
- Return home
- Healthier
- Ready
- Better
How your help is actually supporting Pierre?
Your $40 contribution will help my buddy Pierre eat healthier.
Your $70 contribution will help my buddy Pierre dress for work and a phone to be reached.
Your $90 contribution will help my buddy Pierre get to and from work and doctor appointments.
Your $150 support will help my buddy Pierre have the medicine he needs after his two surgeries
Your $250 support will help my dear buddy save up for a place to stay
Your help will save Pierre from anymore benches like these,
Your help will make sure Pierre’s leg won't face severe infections or risk amputation, like this,
Your help will make sure Pierre’s be able to go back home to the people who love him for the person he is and the work he loves, like here.
- THE END
// OUR STORY
Pierre and I met in 2002 via a random ICQ message. I was on my third venture and just starting a new role as the Creative Director at Blucast (Toronto, Kitchener). Pierre based in Quebec was a talented chef by day and an exceptional young independent web host by night (LeHost.Net).
Our friendship grew over the years. From a host to customer relationship to budding friends when we met for the first time half a decade later in Old Montreal over mushroom caps and fun times. Again 2011 the very day of the death of Steve Jobs (unknowingly). By then, Pierre and I, our friendship grew tight.
Pierre's life rumbled a little when he found his beloved mom on his livingroom floor. It was a heated argument between her and his landlord over an issue that caused her to have a heart attack. Pierre was returning from work and tried with all his might to revive her. It was too late. It was December 3rd, 2004.
The loss of his mom took a heavy and big toll to Pierre's wellbeing. The cold response from his siblings and father on her death didn't help either. I remember Pierre always bringing up his mom and their life stories growing up in our discussions. Even to this day
Pierre is the youngest of 4 siblings. A son of a military family. A father, a lieutenant-colonel for the French armed forces, a mother a diplomat for France to Russia, Pierre was an example of two parents that appreciated hard work and discipline. Pierre grew his ranks in his career as early as 1997 in St Petersburg - Russia to USA, USA to Quebec - Canada to France, France to Germany to final stop Lausanne - Switzerland.
Pierre’s Career
All my professional life I saw Pierre Boutinon passionate and attentive on everything he picks up. He is an honest, straight shooter with a light heart and lots of love to detail. He reminds me of me and the very reason we are such great friends. Our kinship cannot be broken by any force. We always stayed in touch through messenger, email and text. Now on all socials and even share our location over Google maps. Pierre friendship is one of a kind.
After selling LeHost on April 21st, 2007, Pierre continued in the food business and made plans to leave Canada entirely toward a new role in France in November of 2011. He continued his culinary route while staying on his sister's couch for several months until new opportunities opened up to him in Germany where he took on a Head Chef position for a well known French operated seminary company. It is there when he fell in love with his sweetheart and the work he began to do really resonated with his life, along with all the joys that came with it.
Life as we know it doesn't come without its waves and life challenges. There was a shakeup at his work life that forced Pierre to make new plans and in a matter of months was transferred to Switzerland to be the Head Chef of the Chalet in Champèry, one of numerous high end locations operated by a French seminary company, throughout Europe. I saw Pierre triumph life once again. The fine masterpieces he pushed out of the kitchen, the smiles that came with it and photos of his new life. Pierre vibed with Switzerland. The people, the culture, the food and the friendships he made there. He found his true home.
A craft was born
Dating back 2006 as a side hobby on weekends with friends in Montréal, Quebec, Pierre was an avid on automotive aesthetics. He put a lot of his energies in old cars as well as new ones. They learned by taking courses and training with industry professionals at car dealerships such as Porsche, Audi, Mazda, Mercedes. Pierre admired his new passion, seeing his workmanship come to life - some even in the literal sense.
10 years later with the Swiss Alps on his backdrop - Pierre detailed his first car. An Audi S8 2000 followed by a Porsche GT3. A sweet transition from hobby to a real profession. Pierre certified himself with Swissvax, Meguairs and quickly became Polishangel & Hikari accredited Detailer.. Later into 2016, Pierre took a permanent leave as Chef de Cuisine to pursue his automotive passion towards the professional world of detailing. Crystal Look Detailing was born
From a random ICQ message 15 years prior, Pierre asked me with the help of my fifth venture - Copeesh! Prints (acquired) to handle Crystal Look’s branding and print marketing needs. Pierre was averaging one to two cars a week and needed to touch face with his Swiss base consumers. By year-end he finished 48 cars.
By July 2020, Pierre finished his 300th car - Mercedes AMG E63S 2019 and had the rest of the year well into the next year's calendar fully booked.
Covid-19 shows face across Switzerland
Covid-19 began to creep across Switzerland as it did the rest of the world. Country after country, governments made immediate decisions to close borders, go on lockdowns and add national restrictions. Like many small to medium businesses, Pierre took a quick hit. One by one, each of his booked clients went from rescheduling detailing appointments to canceling; forcing Pierre to live off entirely from his savings while everything around him just stopped. The toll of what’s happening put a heavy fix on Pierre. Rent was up every month. He was forced to leave his home and live in the garage with his car. He began to receive a lot of heat from his garage landlord. Demanding him to find another place to live - anywhere but here. The stress became a heavy toll to Pierres wellbeing and the country made swift restrictions that businesses cannot operate while in lockdown.
It wasn’t COVID, it was capitalism and an itch wouldn’t go away.
Things turned to the worst. Pierre’s garage landlord sold the property to a new owner and saw his rent double. Pierre fell ill. The fumes, the stress, the cut he got from a job earlier in the year put Pierre in a very dizzy spell. One of his client walked into the shop to check up on him. He was a doctor and noticed Pierre didn’t look good at all. He asked him several questions and assessed him. He immediately suggested that he should be rushed to the hospital. He had an infection that wasn’t treated well and got worse more so during the pandemic. After several diagnosis and testing at the hospital, Pierre had 2 infected venous ulcers on his lower legs, these needed to be treated with heavy antibiotics or he may face the amputation if not treated right away.
Emergency treatment or face amputation?
Pierre made final arrangements with the shop and some friends to recover after. Pierre was at the hospital for 3 weeks from a badly done bandage. The skin was torn off and created multiple open wounds next to venous ulcers (a medical condition) that needed to be treated while a patient. Due to doctors advise and recommendations, he knew he couldn’t get back to the shop for at least 6 months while in recovery. His new landlords refused Pierre entry to his shop and forced Pierre to find shelter for 3 weeks with friends before he began to find alternative arrangements. The next 2 months was at a local Salvation Army. Covid-19 was still sweeping the country and vaccines were months away from being introduced.
Family outreach
Pierre’s sister based in Cholet, France suggested since things are dead in the water in Switzerland. She’ll cover his flight to stay with her and her family for as long he needed. Pierre agreed and he really needed a vacation - close to family. Besides, France was just over the border, so coming back will be easy. Or that’s what he thought.
Being a former chef, Pierre helped around the house while he stayed with his sister and family. Cooked meals for kids, cleaned up around the house while everyone was at work, worked on the garden and back patio.
Disowned, Dehumanized now France newest street resident.
A few months turned to 7 months. Great family relationships began to show their real colours. Things began to be tense between Pierre and his brother-in-law. Conversations became heated and issued with his father started to pour through. Pierre started to see requests from Switzerland coming in. His clients wanting him to do their cars and he was preparing himself to come back and restart up his business. Then fire blew on-to Pierre and what suppose been his next step to come back to Switzerland and restart his life became a heated argument followed by abusive treatments that pushed Pierre out into the streets of France all unexpectedly. In a matter of minutes, Pierre was without a home, without a sister and without a father. His blood turned on him, and I was feeling hopeless from Canada that I couldn’t assist Pierre right away.
Pre-Covid I reflected back when I backpacked across Spain and began to immediately think what Pierre needs to survive. Being a dear friend of mine, I immediately put Pierre up in a room. Asked him to clear his phone and add a few gig apps - Fiverr, TaskRabbit, UberEats (Walk), Upwork, Airbnb (Experience), Care.com, PeoplePerHour, AskforTask, Helping.
My last words of advice to him before we called it a night then, “Also while your still trying to stay awake before shower and bed. Put yourself on paying apps. Gig work. Any work you can do raise money. Your basically a nomad till something gives you back on your two feet. We live in a digital age. Take advantage the tools you have to earn your worth back.”
While he was in bed rested, I worked around the clock to find how I can keep Pierre in good spirits. I jumped on amazon.fr and ordered him immediate resources and tools to keep him running and safe if situations become flaky. First purchase was a solar powered battery bank. Along with quick snacks to keep his sugars and immune system strong and antiseptic to keep his surroundings clean from a covid world. Pierre had all his valuables with him when we was booted out of his sisters home. Practically everything he brought from Switzerland to spend time with family. As a big guy, dragging two large suitcases was hard and tough for him. I had made sure the purchases I made are at Amazon Pickup Hub nearest to him. Last I want is to have him drag his bodies across the city rushed or tired.
It took two days and Pierre had one night in a hotel and one night in the streets of France to experience. He was scared and confused. He found a bench in a safe hidden corner near a garden nursery to rest himself in. I asked Pierre to always share me his location so i keep active tabs of where he is and report police if my best friend goes missing. As in last seen here. Day and night all I wanted is Pierre to be safe. On his third day, Pierre confirmed pickup of my purchases and almost immediately began using solar powered battery bank to charge up his phone. He also used this opportunity to call up both local shelters and his father in all hopes to explain to happen. Pierre was supplied food from a local food bank and kept going back to build a rapport with management and staff. He learned that his entire family turned their back on him and cut lines of communication. There was no responses. That Pierre was on his own forever and ever.
Since staying at bench corner in Cholet, Pierre has been moved to a special shelter for the homeless with medical difficulties in Segré-en-anjou-bleu . Here is where he resides as of December 31st, 2021. This shelter help residents receive better support while putting medical needs first and foremost. Pierres has two upcoming surgeries (Gastric Sleeve and Varicose Veins) within the next 4-6 months. Awaiting medical date confirmations. (COVID-19 Restrictions).
Pierre turned 42 on January 1st, a few pounds lighter. This is him today,
I can't wait to see my happy friend again.
Yours,
Tm Mahdi
Friends since 2002 (20 years)
While his family has cut him off (except for myself), I want to see Pierre do what he loves - detailing cars. With your support, I want to work up Pierre’s confidence to begin making something more with where he is and achieve residency in Switzerland, a mere 8 hours from where he is now. This is where home has been for him for over 6 years.
I’ve put together an organized budget sheet to help Pierre up while he is in France and pull out from the lurch he is in. With your contribution, he just needs a little push to make his way back home where his active client list is patiently waiting on his return. But for now, lets focus getting his foot grounded where he is at, then build up his strength to get back home.
FRANCE PLAN (RAISING $16,560)
1ST & 2ND YEAR
- Bachelor/Studio
- Healthy Meals
- Medications
2ND YEAR+
- Look good for work
- Get to work
SWISS PLAN (YOUR FAITH IN PIERRE WILL BE HIS THANKS)
3RD YEAR
- Return home
- Healthier
- Ready
- Better
How your help is actually supporting Pierre?
Your $40 contribution will help my buddy Pierre eat healthier.
Your $70 contribution will help my buddy Pierre dress for work and a phone to be reached.
Your $90 contribution will help my buddy Pierre get to and from work and doctor appointments.
Your $150 support will help my buddy Pierre have the medicine he needs after his two surgeries
Your $250 support will help my dear buddy save up for a place to stay
Your help will save Pierre from anymore benches like these,
Your help will make sure Pierre’s leg won't face severe infections or risk amputation, like this,
Your help will make sure Pierre’s be able to go back home to the people who love him for the person he is and the work he loves, like here.
- THE END
// OUR STORY
Pierre and I met in 2002 via a random ICQ message. I was on my third venture and just starting a new role as the Creative Director at Blucast (Toronto, Kitchener). Pierre based in Quebec was a talented chef by day and an exceptional young independent web host by night (LeHost.Net).
Our friendship grew over the years. From a host to customer relationship to budding friends when we met for the first time half a decade later in Old Montreal over mushroom caps and fun times. Again 2011 the very day of the death of Steve Jobs (unknowingly). By then, Pierre and I, our friendship grew tight.
Pierre's life rumbled a little when he found his beloved mom on his livingroom floor. It was a heated argument between her and his landlord over an issue that caused her to have a heart attack. Pierre was returning from work and tried with all his might to revive her. It was too late. It was December 3rd, 2004.
The loss of his mom took a heavy and big toll to Pierre's wellbeing. The cold response from his siblings and father on her death didn't help either. I remember Pierre always bringing up his mom and their life stories growing up in our discussions. Even to this day
Pierre is the youngest of 4 siblings. A son of a military family. A father, a lieutenant-colonel for the French armed forces, a mother a diplomat for France to Russia, Pierre was an example of two parents that appreciated hard work and discipline. Pierre grew his ranks in his career as early as 1997 in St Petersburg - Russia to USA, USA to Quebec - Canada to France, France to Germany to final stop Lausanne - Switzerland.
Pierre’s Career
All my professional life I saw Pierre Boutinon passionate and attentive on everything he picks up. He is an honest, straight shooter with a light heart and lots of love to detail. He reminds me of me and the very reason we are such great friends. Our kinship cannot be broken by any force. We always stayed in touch through messenger, email and text. Now on all socials and even share our location over Google maps. Pierre friendship is one of a kind.
After selling LeHost on April 21st, 2007, Pierre continued in the food business and made plans to leave Canada entirely toward a new role in France in November of 2011. He continued his culinary route while staying on his sister's couch for several months until new opportunities opened up to him in Germany where he took on a Head Chef position for a well known French operated seminary company. It is there when he fell in love with his sweetheart and the work he began to do really resonated with his life, along with all the joys that came with it.
Life as we know it doesn't come without its waves and life challenges. There was a shakeup at his work life that forced Pierre to make new plans and in a matter of months was transferred to Switzerland to be the Head Chef of the Chalet in Champèry, one of numerous high end locations operated by a French seminary company, throughout Europe. I saw Pierre triumph life once again. The fine masterpieces he pushed out of the kitchen, the smiles that came with it and photos of his new life. Pierre vibed with Switzerland. The people, the culture, the food and the friendships he made there. He found his true home.
A craft was born
Dating back 2006 as a side hobby on weekends with friends in Montréal, Quebec, Pierre was an avid on automotive aesthetics. He put a lot of his energies in old cars as well as new ones. They learned by taking courses and training with industry professionals at car dealerships such as Porsche, Audi, Mazda, Mercedes. Pierre admired his new passion, seeing his workmanship come to life - some even in the literal sense.
10 years later with the Swiss Alps on his backdrop - Pierre detailed his first car. An Audi S8 2000 followed by a Porsche GT3. A sweet transition from hobby to a real profession. Pierre certified himself with Swissvax, Meguairs and quickly became Polishangel & Hikari accredited Detailer.. Later into 2016, Pierre took a permanent leave as Chef de Cuisine to pursue his automotive passion towards the professional world of detailing. Crystal Look Detailing was born
From a random ICQ message 15 years prior, Pierre asked me with the help of my fifth venture - Copeesh! Prints (acquired) to handle Crystal Look’s branding and print marketing needs. Pierre was averaging one to two cars a week and needed to touch face with his Swiss base consumers. By year-end he finished 48 cars.
By July 2020, Pierre finished his 300th car - Mercedes AMG E63S 2019 and had the rest of the year well into the next year's calendar fully booked.
Covid-19 shows face across Switzerland
Covid-19 began to creep across Switzerland as it did the rest of the world. Country after country, governments made immediate decisions to close borders, go on lockdowns and add national restrictions. Like many small to medium businesses, Pierre took a quick hit. One by one, each of his booked clients went from rescheduling detailing appointments to canceling; forcing Pierre to live off entirely from his savings while everything around him just stopped. The toll of what’s happening put a heavy fix on Pierre. Rent was up every month. He was forced to leave his home and live in the garage with his car. He began to receive a lot of heat from his garage landlord. Demanding him to find another place to live - anywhere but here. The stress became a heavy toll to Pierres wellbeing and the country made swift restrictions that businesses cannot operate while in lockdown.
It wasn’t COVID, it was capitalism and an itch wouldn’t go away.
Things turned to the worst. Pierre’s garage landlord sold the property to a new owner and saw his rent double. Pierre fell ill. The fumes, the stress, the cut he got from a job earlier in the year put Pierre in a very dizzy spell. One of his client walked into the shop to check up on him. He was a doctor and noticed Pierre didn’t look good at all. He asked him several questions and assessed him. He immediately suggested that he should be rushed to the hospital. He had an infection that wasn’t treated well and got worse more so during the pandemic. After several diagnosis and testing at the hospital, Pierre had 2 infected venous ulcers on his lower legs, these needed to be treated with heavy antibiotics or he may face the amputation if not treated right away.
Emergency treatment or face amputation?
Pierre made final arrangements with the shop and some friends to recover after. Pierre was at the hospital for 3 weeks from a badly done bandage. The skin was torn off and created multiple open wounds next to venous ulcers (a medical condition) that needed to be treated while a patient. Due to doctors advise and recommendations, he knew he couldn’t get back to the shop for at least 6 months while in recovery. His new landlords refused Pierre entry to his shop and forced Pierre to find shelter for 3 weeks with friends before he began to find alternative arrangements. The next 2 months was at a local Salvation Army. Covid-19 was still sweeping the country and vaccines were months away from being introduced.
Family outreach
Pierre’s sister based in Cholet, France suggested since things are dead in the water in Switzerland. She’ll cover his flight to stay with her and her family for as long he needed. Pierre agreed and he really needed a vacation - close to family. Besides, France was just over the border, so coming back will be easy. Or that’s what he thought.
Being a former chef, Pierre helped around the house while he stayed with his sister and family. Cooked meals for kids, cleaned up around the house while everyone was at work, worked on the garden and back patio.
Disowned, Dehumanized now France newest street resident.
A few months turned to 7 months. Great family relationships began to show their real colours. Things began to be tense between Pierre and his brother-in-law. Conversations became heated and issued with his father started to pour through. Pierre started to see requests from Switzerland coming in. His clients wanting him to do their cars and he was preparing himself to come back and restart up his business. Then fire blew on-to Pierre and what suppose been his next step to come back to Switzerland and restart his life became a heated argument followed by abusive treatments that pushed Pierre out into the streets of France all unexpectedly. In a matter of minutes, Pierre was without a home, without a sister and without a father. His blood turned on him, and I was feeling hopeless from Canada that I couldn’t assist Pierre right away.
Pre-Covid I reflected back when I backpacked across Spain and began to immediately think what Pierre needs to survive. Being a dear friend of mine, I immediately put Pierre up in a room. Asked him to clear his phone and add a few gig apps - Fiverr, TaskRabbit, UberEats (Walk), Upwork, Airbnb (Experience), Care.com, PeoplePerHour, AskforTask, Helping.
My last words of advice to him before we called it a night then, “Also while your still trying to stay awake before shower and bed. Put yourself on paying apps. Gig work. Any work you can do raise money. Your basically a nomad till something gives you back on your two feet. We live in a digital age. Take advantage the tools you have to earn your worth back.”
While he was in bed rested, I worked around the clock to find how I can keep Pierre in good spirits. I jumped on amazon.fr and ordered him immediate resources and tools to keep him running and safe if situations become flaky. First purchase was a solar powered battery bank. Along with quick snacks to keep his sugars and immune system strong and antiseptic to keep his surroundings clean from a covid world. Pierre had all his valuables with him when we was booted out of his sisters home. Practically everything he brought from Switzerland to spend time with family. As a big guy, dragging two large suitcases was hard and tough for him. I had made sure the purchases I made are at Amazon Pickup Hub nearest to him. Last I want is to have him drag his bodies across the city rushed or tired.
It took two days and Pierre had one night in a hotel and one night in the streets of France to experience. He was scared and confused. He found a bench in a safe hidden corner near a garden nursery to rest himself in. I asked Pierre to always share me his location so i keep active tabs of where he is and report police if my best friend goes missing. As in last seen here. Day and night all I wanted is Pierre to be safe. On his third day, Pierre confirmed pickup of my purchases and almost immediately began using solar powered battery bank to charge up his phone. He also used this opportunity to call up both local shelters and his father in all hopes to explain to happen. Pierre was supplied food from a local food bank and kept going back to build a rapport with management and staff. He learned that his entire family turned their back on him and cut lines of communication. There was no responses. That Pierre was on his own forever and ever.
Since staying at bench corner in Cholet, Pierre has been moved to a special shelter for the homeless with medical difficulties in Segré-en-anjou-bleu . Here is where he resides as of December 31st, 2021. This shelter help residents receive better support while putting medical needs first and foremost. Pierres has two upcoming surgeries (Gastric Sleeve and Varicose Veins) within the next 4-6 months. Awaiting medical date confirmations. (COVID-19 Restrictions).
Pierre turned 42 on January 1st, a few pounds lighter. This is him today,
I can't wait to see my happy friend again.
Yours,
Tm Mahdi
Friends since 2002 (20 years)
Fundraising team (3)
Tm Mahdi
Organizer
North York, ON
Pierre Boutinon
Team member
Jolyane Parisé
Team member