LYDIA (BRYAR) DAOUST
DEVOTED, LOVING & STEADFAST
Although my 94-year-old mother is unable to be here this weekend due to the physical challenges that now make travel difficult, her presence is deeply felt in everything surrounding this celebration and this journey. Born in 1932 in Robertville, a small Acadian village just outside Bathurst, New Brunswick, Lydia’s roots shaped the resilient, resourceful, and fiercely strong woman she became. As the second youngest of 11 children, she learned early the values of hard work, sacrifice, faith, and perseverance — qualities that would guide her throughout her life and quietly shape the lives of everyone around her.
At just sixteen years old, Mom moved to Northern Ontario, where she eventually met my father and began raising a family. While she lovingly raised seven children, she also experienced the heartbreaking loss of her third child (Joseph), who passed just one day after birth — a sorrow no mother ever forgets. Like so many women of her generation, she devoted herself fully to her home and family, somehow managing the impossible with grace and consistency. She was the definition of selfless — a master juggler who made a busy household look and feel effortless. Meals were thoughtfully tailored to every fussy child, the house was always beautifully kept, and despite the demands of motherhood and a very entrepreneurial and hardworking husband, she carried herself with natural elegance, impeccable style, and a quiet confidence that made her truly remarkable and unforgettable.
Mom was — and still is — a woman of deep faith, unwavering values, and uncompromising standards. Her strength, support, resilience, and sense of pride have left a lasting imprint on all of her children. So much of who I am, and the care and attention that have gone into creating The Lighthouse, come directly from the example she set throughout her life. I had the joy of having Mom visit twice in my second season – what a gift that was to share with her. While she may not be here in person this weekend, her spirit most certainly is. Like Dad, her impact, love and influence on me is forever present here at The Lighthouse.
LISE DAOUST (1953-2016)
GENEROUS, SMART & FUN LOVING
This weekend, I also honour the memory of my beloved sister, Lise, whom we lost ten years ago. Much like our father, her spirit remains a powerful presence in my life, and I feel her influence deeply here at The Lighthouse. Fourteen years older than me, Lise was appointed my Godmother, a role she embraced wholeheartedly. From the very beginning, she took me under her wing, spoiling me with love, watching over me with fierce devotion, and becoming one of the most important influences in my life. Spending my summers with her in Toronto made it my second home, and the impact she had on shaping the person I have become was profound and unavoidable. She was my greatest champion — always believing in me, encouraging me, and seeing possibilities in me long before I recognized them in myself.
Lise embodied so many of the qualities that defined our father. Generosity came naturally to her, and family was always her highest priority. Her greatest pride and accomplishment, however, were her two children, Luc and Monique, whom she loved with unwavering devotion. She was a caring, steadfast, and fiercely dedicated mother who poured herself wholeheartedly into raising them. The remarkable people they have become are a true testament to her love, guidance, and commitment as a parent. Lise approached life with equal measures of dedication and joy — working tirelessly toward whatever she set her mind to, while ensuring there was always room for fun, adventure, and celebration. Her laughter was contagious, her energy infectious, and simply being in her presence made life feel lighter and more joyful. She had a remarkable gift for making people feel loved, supported, and capable of achieving more than they imagined. Even today, I carry her with me in all that I do. I share every success and accomplishment with her memory, knowing that so much of my confidence, determination, and outlook on life were shaped by her unwavering love and belief in me. Her legacy continues to live on — not only in the countless lives she touched, but in the person I strive to be each day.
MICHEL DAOUST
NATURE LOVING, HABITUAL & RESERVED
Although my brother Michel could not join us this weekend, I would be remiss not to acknowledge him. As the eldest boy in our family, Michel’s life path has been very different from mine, yet deeply rooted in the same family values we were raised with. A devoted family man and true outdoorsman, Michel inherited our father’s love of nature, fishing, hunting, and life on the land — perhaps more than any of the other six children. In many ways, he was Dad’s greatest sidekick, spending countless hours alongside him on hunting and fishing adventures that became stories and memories still shared today.
Michel is the proud father of two wonderful children, Renée and Paul, and together with his kind-hearted and light-spirited wife Lorraine, they have built a life centred around family, love, and the great outdoors of life in Northern Ontario. Today, their greatest joy comes from being devoted grandparents to two grandchildren who absolutely light up their world. Though Michel and I may have taken very different roads in life, I have always admired his quiet strength, loyalty, and unwavering dedication to his passions and the people he loves most.
