Liam was born in Salmon Arm on a beautiful sunny day in April, 1988. He lived in Blind Bay with his parents, Lesley and Neil, his brothers, Gabriel and Thabo and the family dog, Lady.
As a small child he moved to Botswana., where he quickly became a much-loved figure at Moeding College in the little village of Otse. He learned the local language and made friends with people of all ages and backgrounds. We are sure that many people there still remember the little barefoot white boy who played with the village children and chatted in Setswana with the village elders.
Liam went to Sorrento Elementary School from kindergarten through grade six. He then moved with his family back to Africa – to Eritrea, on the horn of Africa this time. Liam went everywhere in the small city of Asmara on his bike or on the bus. Usually he was the only non-African on the crowded bus, so he attracted lots of attention. He would strike up a conversation with whoever he was sitting with. Well-spoken and good-looking, he received a number of marriage proposals on the bus from women looking for husbands for their daughters.
Liam learned to scuba dive in the Red Sea and Neil has many happy memories of dive trips with Liam in the Dahlak Islands, the Indian Ocean, Australia and Cuba. It was on our holiday in Cuba that Liam bought his famous green Che Guevara t-shirt.
Liam chose great friends. He went fly fishing with Connor and loved hanging out with Josh and Kyle. He was a snowboarder and once in Nambia he sandboarded in the desert. He had a special bond with his Grandpa Mike and loved spending time at the farm in Keremeos.
Liam believed in social justice. He was fearless in expressing his opinions. He was funny and smart even in the midst of a philosophical discussion.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Tsamaya sentle, Liam. Stay Frosty. We love you.