" He was instrumental in my start in journalism ," Johnson said on CJAD radio . " He was just the kind of person who was so devoted to fostering potential and talent in the community ... He was a laid-back , easy-going guy and always a pleasure to work with or for him ."
Egbert ' s presence at Spice Island Cultural Festival and every Caribbean community event was seen as the ultimate stamp of approval , a sign that the event was relevant and important to Black Quebecers .
Egbert ’ s influence in the community was strong
" Egbert ’ s influence in the community was strong . I relied heavily on him and on the Community Contact newspaper to get the word out on all my community activities . He covered all the stories of interest in Montreal ’ s Black Community and showcased our community with a sense of responsibility . He surely will be missed ,” said SICDAQ spokesperson and long-time friend Gemma Raeburn-Baynes .
In his political commentary , Egbert always prioritized human rights , social justice and compassion toward anyone facing hardship . He was an " unsung hero " in Quebec , Gott added , and " we don ' t realize how important they are until we lose them . Egbert is definitely one of those people who probably deserved more acknowledgement of what he was doing and how he was doing it while he was with us . And I think it ' s going to hit us hard ."
Egbert leaves to mourn his wife Elizabeth , his son and daughter-in-law , many other family members , friends and the entire Montreal community . May he RIP .
To donate to Community Contact , the newspaper founded by Egbert Gaye , please visit : mtlcommunitycontact . com / membership-join
Spice Island Cultural Day festivities in Montreal takes place on the afternoon of Saturday , July 8 at Vinet Park in Little Burgundy . A special commemorative discussion will take place in Egbert ' s honour at 3pm .
Egbert at Montreal Carnival Photo Credit : Anne Janice Farray
Egbert Gaye was born in Carriacou , Grenada in 1955 and migrated to Trinidad & Tobago with his family as a young boy .
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