# A Tribute to Landon Pearson

by Virginia Caputo

Landon Pearson Memorial Service, Ottawa, April 2023

Let me begin by briefly quoting from Thom van Dooren's book, "The Wake of Crows" (2019). He writes about hope "as an integral part of the ways in which worlds come into being and pass away ... A project... not a vague optimism about the future but something that must be worked on, built, shared with others. Hope grows and expands as we actively care.... within the context of the many, always unequal constraints that shape our possibilities... with foresight, prudence, and care as relational work." More than an empty wish thrown to the wind, hope wove its way into and through the world in the person we love and admire, Landon Pearson.

Good afternoon. My name is Virginia Caputo, and I am the director of the *Landon Pearson Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children's Rights*. It is an honour to pay tribute to the finest colleague and collaborator I have ever known, and with whom I shared a friendship for over 17 years. To Landon's children, beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, my heartfelt condolences.

Landon embodied so much good in her life with her forceful vision of human rights and an unbreakable perseverance in making the world a better place. She arrived at Carleton in 2005, following her retirement from Senate, at mine and my brother Tullio Caputo's invitation, with her substantial resource library and steadfast vision for all children. With the launch of the Centre in 2006, Landon began marking many children's rights-related milestones annually. Over the past year, we had been working on recreating the UN Special Session on Children on its 20th anniversary. Prime Minister Chrétien had appointed Landon as his personal representative to the meeting. She wished to highlight what children had said about "A World Fit for Us" in 2002 and to hear what kids are saying their priorities are now. It certainly brought a smile to Landon's face when Mr. Chrétien appeared on zoom at her 90th birthday party and acknowledged that appointing her was the best decision he had made.
In 2007, the Centre launched one of its signature events called Shaking the Movers, a workshop designed for children ages 7-17 to “have the floor” as Landon used to say. In 2019, with funding from the Muttart Family Foundation, we piloted Shaking the Movers for 3- to 7-year-olds; this year, Landon was thrilled to support Shaking the Movers for Indigenous children with colleagues from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.

Following Shaking the Movers, in 2008, Landon created CRAN – the Child Rights Academic Network, to gather a multi-sectoral group of adult decision-makers with the express purpose to listen and respond to young people's concerns arising from the Shaking the Movers workshop experiences. When CRAN gathers in a couple of weeks (April 2023), it will be for the 15th year in a row.

A few years after creating CRAN, Landon wanted to create a publishing space for colleagues to share ideas. Together, we designed the Canadian Journal of Children's Rights, although we were initially told it was too tall a task to start an open access journal. One glance from Landon and I knew we would make it happen. I am proud to say that in November, our 10th issue will be released at our annual National Child Day celebration.

I will always remember National Child Day as one of Landon's favourite Centre events. It is no coincidence, I imagine, that her birthday is just a few days before NCD, on November 16th. She was always guaranteed a birthday cake and celebration surrounded by young people on this day, which she loved, especially when they came by the Centre to use her resource library, the largest collection of children's rights materials in one location at Carleton University. She now has over 14,000 children's rights documents, books, and videos. With students, Landon had what I would call a “Landon effect,” a way to connect and if they wanted, she would never let them go with her support and wisdom.

It is hard to imagine the world in the same way without Landon and the absence of her presence is difficult. The Centre is a little quieter; I miss the laughter, discussions, the visitors who wanted a bit of Landon's time and wisdom. From high level diplomats, Senators, academics, teachers, children - Landon would welcome them all! As exceptional as she was,
she was equally humble, never really believing that what she had done for children's rights, or
her advocacy was special or more than anything anyone else could do. I am grateful to have

encountered such a phenomenal human being in my lifetime. My deep sense of loss is bound
up with a profound sense of joy whenever I think of Landon. There is no question that her
legacy will live on. May her life and wisdom be a blessing to us all.

Virginia Caputo

Ottawa, April 2023

Reference

van Dooren, T. (2019). The Wake of Crows: Living and Dying in Shared Worlds. Columbia University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/van-18282