I fell in love with Spencer the moment I knew he was growing inside me. After he was born, I didn't think I could love anyone more…Spencer prided himself with his fashion sense. This red shirt was one of his favourites...At times, I need to spend time with his scent, found on clothing and bedding that has not been washed since he left...Although there are still days where my grief is overwhelming, I am living a new life, knowing that I cannot ever own the life I had on the day before he left. My only solace is my profound awareness that Spencer died knowing how much I loved him.

This sweatshirt was a gift from Findlay's friends, David and Allison, and one of his favourite items of clothing. As I write this, I am sitting in Findlay's room and thinking of all the memories, associations and attachments that being part of this project has aroused...My son's physical disabilities limited many of his activities. One of the things he could not do was his own laundry...As a consequence, his clothes continued to be as familiar to me as my own. After his death, I simply did his laundry, put away his clothes as I always had, and left them in their accustomed place...Letting go of this object, letting it become part of a renewal and a recreation, will perhaps help me to do the same.

Shanna loved life. She lived each day to the fullest…It was difficult to decide what to send…something from her childhood…her youth…or something more recent to represent the sophistication she was developing in her choice of clothing to go out with friends, a special part of her few, precious years as a young adult. The pants represent this last choice...pants she would wear with a simple, but elegant top, enhanced with appropriate accessories, jewelry and shoes. Her friends would comment on how Shan could put things together and it would just work...look great on her. Friends were the sunshine of her life and Shan the sunshine of theirs. Goodbye sunshine.

Matthew was a Métis youth who had huge dreams…He had applied and been accepted into the fire fighter/paramedic program at Seneca College…Since he was a little boy, he had wanted to be a fireman…Matthew truly felt that this was his calling. He would be able to help people, which is what he wanted to do...Just a few weeks from graduation, Matthew passed away. It isn't totally understood why his heart gave out, but it did...Soar with the Eagles, Matthew!

Leslie, I remember taking you to Camp Glenburn for the first time; you cried when I left because you didn't want to stay at summer camp. Two weeks later, when I arrived to take you home, you cried again; this time because you didn't want to leave camp and your new friends...For several summers you insisted on going to Camp Glenburn as a camper, then as a Counselor-in-Training, and working as a Junior and then as a Senior Counselor. You became Director of the Counselor-in-Training program and later the Environmental Director...You loved wearing this t-shirt. I'm glad I have it to hold. It reminds me of your activism. I remember you telling me that it was Camp Glenburn that ignited the spark within you...Like the shirt I am holding, you held true to your convictions throughout your life, living it to the fullest.

Like a ribbon, you held us all together, softly weaving through our lives. The photo of you wearing your blue turtleneck sweater, while hugging your books and wearing that big warm Sarah smile, is vivid for all of us. This is the piece of clothing that we'll think of you wearing and we wish to share with others. Yes, it was practical but it was also warm and stylish just like you.

Gavin always wore ties, from the age of one. In every school picture from kindergarten to university graduation he has a tie on. At work he was noted for his smile and his many, many ties…We talk about him daily and our grandchildren talk about Uncle Gavin, even though two of them never met him. We miss him dearly.

Sisterly duty
Alone in room
Closet emptying
Fast discarding
Stuffing bags...
Panties pretty
Unlike the sisters
An unbroken trilogy
Still together
Often worn
Reminders of a time
Before wrist tracings
Darkened memories
Took your laughter
Away from me

Andrew's shirt is a strong visceral, physical and symbolic reminder of our precious son. It is symbolic of his growth into the working world, taking on responsibility and earning a living. This shirt is from his first real job, which he held for five years until his death. Andrew loved his job. He was a courtesy clerk at Sobey's in Acton, ON, but we called him "buggy boy!"...I can still see his distinct gait, the result of cerebral palsy, a condition that made a physical job even more of a challenge...In their last ad for the year, Sobey's published this: "Andrew was truly an inspiration to us all. It has been our privilege to have been part of his life and we hope that Andrew knew what a profound impact he has had on all our lives."

Just nine days after giving birth, Lori suffered a devastating stroke in her sleep…I keep a picture of her close to my heart at all times in a pendant. Her son is only two but every time I see him, he opens the pendant, looks at me with his beautiful brown eyes and his adoring smile and says "mama," and then he kisses and hugs her picture.