In memory of my wild, courageous, beautiful friend Jessica McLaggan. She grew up on the islands but work took her far afield. Jessica's life was never splattered across social media. It lived in the physical world. I feel counted among the truly lucky to have been witness to her artistry, her spirited adventurousness, raw determination, and genius.

I met Jessica the first summer I lived on Quadra 2003. We both worked at April Point and we became fast friends. Thinking back it was probably our love for the water and adventure that drew us together. After work we would pile into her red Ford Ranger and go to the lakes. It was the height of being almost 20 to spend the day sunbathing and cliff jumping. We had a good crew that year at April Point, bonding both at work and outside of work. At the end of the season we took a trip out to Tofino with friends to camp and go surfing. Jessie was good at surfing and shredded the waves with the same virtuosity as the rest of life. Her blond hair and easy going attitude was every bit the surfer babe part. I often think back to that day where I watched my friend surf, while I floated like a piece of flotsam near the wave breaks holding onto my board. Then warming up by the fire on the beach. It was such a joy to be in the ocean and in good company.
It was after that summer that Jessie enrolled in aviation school. School took her away from Quadra, as did her work. She spent years getting hours in remote airports. Her grit and tenacity served her well as she was always thinking outside the box. Jess never shied away from trying to do something even though it was hard.

Jess was someone who did not take no for an answer. This was shown in her determination to hold her place in the airline industry as a female pilot. Aviation is still a very male dominated boys club. Yet Jess deserved to be there and always fought for the right to be. She loved being able to fly and never wanted to stop. She would tell stories of how to get the runway cleared of ice during the narwhal hunt in Nunavut. Hint, it is probably not how you think! Or how pink nails affected labour allotment. She flew the private jets for the rich and famous, such as blingy people that like thrift shops.
Without fail when she would come to the island my phone would ring. We always made time for each other. Walking, hiking, swimming, whale watching or dinners with her parents, Victor and Kathy. We did not have filters when it came to each other. We shared the wins and the challenges of our respective lives with each other. It was beautiful to see each other's complexity. We both knew that having it all together was not reality.
Time and time again I was inspired by her courage and resilience. I want to shout from the rooftops how much I respect her.
Those that knew Jess in the last years of her life knew that she was recovering from a traumatic accident that caused serious injury that ended her flying career. It was hard to see the pain she was in both physically and mentally. I without a doubt believe that her strength of character kept her fighting to regain what she had lost.
I wish it was not here that her story turned its final page. I wish there was more. I wish there was a sweet victory just around the corner. A just completion of the journey. Alas, life is not always just. Life keeps Life-ing. So dear friend I leave it here. You have inspired me. You will continue to inspire me. May I embody your courage and feist for life in everything that I do. Rest easy. You have earned it.
Written by Sarah Richardson