The Memorial Picnic for Sidney Johnston was held at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa. It was organized by the women friends who'd been a part of Sid's network, longtime established at that, and primarily from the "Brunch" bunch. Marty Hamer, Maggie Rolfe, Janet Goldie, Gillian Gall, Liana Wadsworth, and others participated, planned and pitched forward ideas for this event until it all came together on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. It was marked by attendance of many of Sid's oldest friends (many of whom shared Ridgemont High School or at least a neighbourhood of some kind with Sid whilst he endured his adolescence in Ottawa and eventually found himself employed at DND). Other friends from the gay community included a few recognizable names from the political-social activist group first called The Gays of Ottawa (GO). And of course his mother, Mary Dorothy Usborne, was a key attendee. Balloons and verses attached to them, or notes and thoughts, were ultimately released in a late afternoon blue sky cottoned with white clouds. Photographs and memories were shared, as were laughter and tears. There may be another one held in 2011. Stay tuned...