In his remarks at Irving's funeral, Dr. Richard Goldbloom, the celebrated Halifax pediatrician who is Irving's brother-in-law, re-told a story Irving liked to tell on himself. In the late-90s, the Canadian International Demining Corps, Irving's mine-removal charity, developed a center to train Mozambicans in the techniques of mine removal. Once up and running, the center was to be turned over to state government. The facility lay deep in the jungle. Irving flew in for the transfer ceremony, together with the state governor and the Mozambican Minister of Land Mine Removal. Upon landing, the government officials and their aides gathered into a tight...

26 September, 2010

The mine-removal NGO Mines Action Canada has released a statement expressing gratitude for Irving’s wisdom, commitment, support, kindness, generosity and sense of humour for many years. Money quote: In the mid-90s many people in Canada were caught up in the enthusiasm of the Canadian-led initiative to ban landmines. Irving went one step further and founded CIDC which has became Canada’s leading landmine clearance organization. There are children and innocent civilians in Bosnia, Croatia, Mozambique and other countries who can go about their daily lives without the threat of landmines because of the efforts of this amazing man from Sydney, Nova Scotia....

20 September, 2010