Jordan Selkirk (with one of his nephews)
July 30, 1985 - December 9, 2006

A trust fund has been established to help Jordan's family.  Donations can be made to the Jordan Selkirk Trust Fund at any
TD-Canada Trust branch.

For Jordan

I am a much blessed Mother.  At this moment, this is not the first description that has come to my mind over the few agonizing days without my Jordan.

Jordan always knew I "had his back" and even in this awful time, I feel I must think first of him and let you know as we view the photos of my beloved Jordan's rich, short life that he was not, as many are, just a son to me but a confidante – the best anyone could ever ask for – and moreover I called him a best friend – the best friend anyone could ever ask for.  I am abundantly blessed by his three other remaining brothers, Colin, Evan and Steven and my husband, Lee.  All of my sons I am proud and grateful to call friend as well as son and without them I would not have made it through this ordeal.

Jordan was born under strange circumstances 7000 miles away in Saudi Arabia and today we say his farewell under even more mysterious, but more heartbreaking circumstances.

If all I can do now for him – my youngest (my baby, though as he watches us today, he will not be pleased I still call him that)- is to find the courage and strength to stand here in front of all of you – his much-loved friends and our dearest family is to let you know how fortunate I and his Father and family were that God saw fit to send into our care and companionship and love this generous, kind, devoted and thoughtful young man for far too short a time.  It must be said and remembered that he was a rare treasure for all of his life.

I ask all of you today to please remember him so thatin whatever way he may have touched your lives he may live on through all of you and all of your deeds, which is what Jordan would want.

As we send him so reluctantly into God's loving care, I am comforted in knowing that his kind, joyous and caring soul will be warmly welcomed into the embrace of his four grandparents, his brother Warren, and that he will even have our Teddy-Bear and Cougar awaiting him to be his animal companions in heaven as he embarks on this new journey. When our time comes, Jordan will be there first in line to welcome us all.

Please keep Jordan in your hearts and minds for he loved you all and this will be his legacy.

Eulogy
Linda Selkirk

~ 

Good afternoon everyone. (Before I get started, I just want to find out if there is anyone else who had expressed an interest in speaking today – I may have committed to arranging for you to speak, but I am a bit fuzzy now, and I don't want to inadvertently miss anyone.  So, did anyone else wish to come up and speak?) I've probably introduced myself to the lion's share of the group, nevertheless, I am Colin, Jordan's eldest brother.  I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who has come by the house or called over the past couple of days, to those who made it to the viewings yesterday, and to everyone who has otherwise had my family in their prayers at this difficult time.  Jordan loved you all, and I am indebted to you for the joy that you brought into his short but full life.

I should warn you all about at least one or two Selkirk character traits that may pop-up during my short (roars of laughter) speech:  First, we tend to use humour to ease otherwise difficult situations; and Second, we have a love of analogy and metaphor that will become apparent shortly (I am well-know for it, anyway).

So, when I look at the hand that Jordan was dealt, I realize in hindsight how well he played it.  In this game of life (Yes, I even mix my metaphors), there are many fortune-cookie-style philosophies that may come to mind.The one that bears amendment, at this time, is the one that our North American culture is (arguably) based upon: "He who dies with the most toys wins.  "An interesting philosophy, perhaps, but it is only now that I have come to realize the required amendment to this well-known saying – it goes like this:

"He who dies with the most Friends wins."

I think that we are all well aware of who has set the benchmark that we may now all strive for. (… and come in a respectable second-place, at best)

They say that King Midas was blessed with the most glorious gift – everything that he touched turned to gold.  Not too shabby.  I must admit, that would be a useful capability to have, at least once in a while… Given the choice, however, I would give anything to have the gift that Jordan possessed … and used without prejudice:

Everyone that he touched turned into a Friend…
and, most often, into a member of our extended family.

I loved you Jordan: I still do; and I always will.

We say that you were taken from us far too early.  Deep down, however, we know that you would humbly concede that you were right, though ("you guys are so dumb"), and that you actually got everything that you wanted out of your amazing life.

(If you had not guessed it by now, I am a university professor who has been given "the floor" – a dangerous mix, if you expect to meet any time constraints here…)

Let me conclude with a thought that I would like to share with you:

We all know what happened, more or less, last Saturday morning, and the devastating consequences that resulted.   I would like you to consider, however, a slight modification to the events that transpired, to bring an important issue to light:

It's early Saturday morning, and a car is sliding along a road in Brampton – it is going to hit a pole:we don't want it to, that's just the way it is.Then, all of the sudden, everything STOPS…

A voice says to Jordan, "Well Jord, I'm sorry, but there's going to be one less soul in the world in a few moments…Nothing can be done… So, who's it going to be?"

Without hesitating, Jordan replies, "Are you kidding?"

"I've got their backs."

"Take me."

True.  He was just that kind of guy.

Jordan would take one for the team.You know, as the oldest sibling, I have spent much my life trying to "set a good example"… to "do the right thing"…to be a role model and give my younger brothers something that they would want to be like when they grew up.  Well, Jordan was a great friend to all of you, and he never let you down.

I want to be like that when I grow up.

Jordan has left us an amazing legacy… and I know that he would want you to be there for Your Friends… to talk to them, especially if it's been a while… to listen to them without judgment… and if you think that they have done something that you can't forgive – forgive them… Jordan would.

I love you, Jordan.  Thank you all very much for being here today.  Take care.

Eulogy
Colin Selkirk

~ 

We've all spent the last few days grieving Jordan.  None of us can believe he is gone.  All of us don't want him to be gone.  We all know it is just not fair.

But what is done cannot be undone.So instead of sorrow, it is instead time for healing.It is time to remember the good times. Time to remember the summer days spent camping, the endless nights spent partying, and the marathon video gaming sessions.

Among some of my fondest memories of Jordan was playing a video game against him when he was only 6 or 7.  Even then he was already kicking my butt at video games.  I was so frustrated by the fact that I just couldn't beat my little kid brother that I was banging my head against the window I was sitting beside.  And then he'd beat me again and again and again.And man, could he ever rub it in.  Even then.  I ended up actually breaking the window I was hitting it so hard.  And I can still remember the look on his face, as I brushed little bits of glass out of my hair.  He gave me that classic look of his, the one that said "Man, are you dumb!".

He was full of life.  And that is what we should celebrate.  For a life cut so short, he lived more than most men could ever hope to live.  He was always there for anyone, at any time. And he knew how to enjoy life in a way that so few of us do.  And that is not to be forgotten.

As many of you know, Jordan was a ridiculously good poker player.  King Selkirk was what he went by at the poker table.  And he just seemed to pull all the good cards.Every time.  That's why I never played against him if I was sitting anywhere near a window.

Fate dealt us all two cards this weekend.  We're all holding a 2 and 7 right now.And no, not of the same suit.  They are the worst first two cards you can get in poker.  They offer the least chance of winning anything.But here's the thing folks.  Jordan always played by his own rules.  So while we're all distracted, sitting here celebrating his life, Jordan has grabbed the deck off the table.   He's stacking it for us.  So we may only have a 2 and a 7 today, but a few weeks from now, we'll get dealt another 7.A few months from now, another 7.  And someday very soon, we'll get last seven dealt to us.We'll have a 4 of a kind in our hands.And we'll win big with those cards, because Jord saw to it.

After the service today, there are decks of cards for hopefully everyone who wants one, which were generously donated by Zellers.  I invite everyone here to do as I do now.  To take a 2 and a 7 out of the pack, and keep it with you in your wallet or your purses.  Let it remind you that while it hurts today, there are better cards on their way.  That Jord isn't done impacting our lives, and won't be done any time soon.

He'll see to it that we get that second best hand.  But as we all know, he can't give us the best hand.  That would be any hand where he is still across the table from me, watching me bluff oh so badly, and giving me that look…"Man, are you dumb!"

In sum, celebrate him.  Remember the good times he shared with us.  He would want it that way.

Eulogy
Evan Selkirk, Loving Brother, Dec 12, 2006

~ 

A memorial website has been created at http://jordanselkirk.com .  It is a website for people to share all their stories about him, upload pictures they have of him, and to remember his as they see fit - Evan