With deep sadness, we announce the death of Roger Hardy at St. Vincent Hospital in Ottawa on May 3, 2024. Roger was born at Knutsford to Frank and Helen (Smallman) Hardy on May 26, 1940 and spent his early life in Rosebank. He leaves to mourn his passing, his son, Roger Vincent Hardy (Jenny) as well as their children Emily, Abigail, Rachel and Ryan. Also his daughter, Michaela (Derek) Tokarski and their children Blake, Clara and Cole. He was a dearly loved brother of Hazel (Hardy) MacKenzie (Vincent deceased) of St Catherines and Jean (Hardy) Gallant and husband Ernie of Cornwall. He also leaves to mourn his four nephews, Grant (Colleen) MacKenzie, Garth MacKenzie, Greg (Tania) MacKenzie and David (Jenny) Gallant. Roger was predeceased by his parents; and infant brother, Lloyd. Roger began his early education in Rosebank and Piusville. He attended highschool in O’Leary and Alberton. After attending P.W.C. teacher training in Charlottetown, he taught for one year at Freeland, at age 17. He continued his education at Acadia and completed his B.A. degree at S.D.U. in 1963. He went on to teach and do part-time work in Counselling at Kirkland Lake Collegiate. He moved to Toronto where he taught and was Assistant Head of Guidance at Erindale Secondary School. He returned to study at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and graduated with his M. Ed. in Counselling in 1971. He returned to teaching and guidance at Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa. He graduated with his Ph.D. in Counselling in 1979 from the University of Ottawa and became Head of the Counselling Department at J.S. Woodsworth in Ottawa. He was the first to implement a peer counselling program to mediate conflict in secondary Ontario highschools, a model which was later widely adopted. He served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Schools Counselling Association. Roger was fluently bi-lingual and enjoyed engaging in French in professional and social life. Before his stuggle with dementia and esophageal cancer forced him to take life at an easier pace, Roger loved to keep active. He played recreational hockey, tennis, squash, cycling and skiing at Edelweiss with his children. He also joined a walking group. He cycled from Kanata to Summerside to celebrate his 50 birthday in 1990. He often returned to P.E.I. for special family occasions such as his nephews’ weddings. He was a loving son to his mother while she lived in Toronto and Ottawa and always returned to P.E.I. to celebrate her birthdays. Cremation has taken place and there will be a private family funeral at his graveside at Elmsdale United Cemetery at a later date. If so desired, donations may be made in his memory to Salvation Army Booth Center, 171George St, Ottawa K1N 5W5, phone 1-613-241-1573 or Canadian Cancer Society, National Donation Processing Centre, P.O. Box 640 STN K, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 9Z9.
Dr. James Roger HARDY — Ottawa
