Lucas Murnaghan Memorial Bench

GREAT LAKES SURF COMMUNITY
MEMORIAL

In the early hours of March 23, 2021 we said goodbye to Lucas.

It’s difficult to sum up the fullness and richness of who Lucas was here. He was a doting son, brother and uncle; a devoted doctor; an assured athlete; an entrepreneur; a loving partner; a loyal friend; and a bold and unabashed creative. As a doctor he was dedicated to the principle of ‘growing athletes’, working diligently with pediatric and adolescent patients to help them achieve their athletic goals. As an artist he was fearless in his physical and conceptual explorations of vulnerability, confidence, shame, pride, loneliness and solitude.

Lucas’ start in photography began by documenting the local surf scene on the Great Lakes. Always striving to master his craft, he was soon shooting classic surf breaks and surf competitions around the world, but his creative heart was in the fine art, underwater photography that he became known for.

In 2019, after a decade of practicing medicine, Lucas stepped into a second career as full-time co-owner and operator of ‘Surf the Greats’. Side-by-side with his partner Antonio, Lucas devoted himself to the surf community, creating a space for connection, in and out of the water.

In February 2021, while shooting big waves on Oahu’s North Shore, Lucas was diagnosed with a rare cholangiocarcinoma. He and Antonio returned to Toronto where he received treatment at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre before going home to be with his family.

Lucas was beautifully intricate and complex. He was a scientist and an artist, a doctor and a patient, an elite athlete who carried the burden of illness, extremely confident and daringly vulnerable. For many in his community he was an anchor point — a calm and comforting presence in an increasingly chaotic world. Without him we feel untethered.

In a personal essay, Lucas wrote, “I felt stronger and braver in water than on land, and when I was in it — I knew that no one could make me feel any different. The sounds of the world would go silent when I descended below the surface. Feelings of doubt and shame melt away and I am free to be whatever I want to be. I gained self confidence in what I could do there and wished that I could spend all my time in this alternate world. Even long after coming out and living openly and honestly, water has always held healing powers and brought me a sense of peace that can’t be found elsewhere.”

Dear Lucas, you lived fully and earnestly, always staying true to yourself by chasing your passions and challenging those around you to do the same. The water was your place of refuge, and it is where we will go to find solace from our grief. Thank you for your life. We know that you have now found your peace.

I did not know Lucas extremely well but the amount of love and loss Antonio must feel at this time I’m sure feels overwhelming. I hope this token of love is a reflection of the acts of love that were given by him to our Great Lakes community

Currently, an application for a memorial bench in Lucas Murnaghan name for Ashbridges Bay has been drafted and submitted to government . Although we cannot select the exact location it’s my hope it’s in a spot that over looks the water where his family and friends can visit and chat and share love with him  

I have requested the amount of the bench plus tax and a few dollars for a soft memorial 

Thank you in advance for your giving and caring  

Next approvals are in fall /21.  I will keep everyone updated.