Grandsons donation to the Terry Fox Foundation in memory of his Grandfather
Dominik Mathieu is a member of Massey-vanier High School’s graduating class of 2019, and has started his last year of high school with a powerful statement. He made a $500 donation to the Terry Fox Foundation fundraiser at his school.
When Dominik spoke to his parents about the donation, they were surprised – after a summer working hard at Bromont’s micro-brewery Le Brouemont, the hard-working teen was giving up roughly 15% of his summer earnings – truly something for a young man bound for CÉGEP next year, and already saving for other necessities related to growing up.
I asked him why he had decided to pledge such a large amount. “It’s been seven years since my grandfather died, and I’ve done nothing.” Dominik Mathieu is clear-eyed, passionate about life, curious, filled-to-the-brim with mischief, with a quick sense of humour.
So, who was this grandfather of his that made such an impression?
Roberto Antonio Bardati started his career as part of a city planning team for Hamilton Ontario, working a full time job during weekdays, as well as working as a taxi driver and a KFC deliverer on weeknights and weekends just to make ends meet.
His daughter, Dominik’s mother, Tayna Bardati elaborates, “He moved to the Eastern Townships in the 60s to get closer to my mom's family and he fell in love with the French Canadian culture and warmth of the Quebecois.”
Mr. Bardati worked as a draftsman for several machining and pulp and paper companies for a few years while going to night school to learn French and get his teaching diploma. He worked for over twenty-five years as a teacher at Alexander Galt High School, and retired in 1998 at sixty years of age.
His daughter continues, “During those 25 odd years,he would also volunteer at local youth groups (Boy Scouts), cross country ski club, the Lennoxville Catholic church as well as in his spare time he would draw technical housing plans for local urban developers. He designed and drew all of our family homes.
In 1982, the family bought a small piece of land in North Hatley and built a hobby farm, where my dad and mom would grow acres of vegetables to sell at the local Farmer's market and have free-range chickens and hens.”
Later on when the older kids left the home, Mr. Bardati and his wife Sonia ran a B&B, managed primarily by Mr. Bardati during his free summer months. Also, during this time, he returned to school at Bishop's Continuing Education to obtain a BA in Religion Studies, "just for fun".
Tayna remembers, “My dad was always generous with his time and to those less fortunate. I remember many times him inviting recent immigrants or poorer families for dinner to make sure they would have a decent meal once in a while. Although rather humble and not wanting to take credit for his generosity most of the time, he would be thrilled to see his grandson Dominik take on a leadership role with his donation efforts for Terry Fox Foundation this year, but he would probably have told him that he didn't have to do this in his memory because he felt he wasn't really that important.”
Tayna Bardati and her husband, Axel Mathieu (a graduate of an ETSB school himself, Richmond Regional High School) have always encouraged their two sons to be generous with worthy causes. In the past, both have put in efforts to raise funds for cancer - Axel participated in Ride for the Cure for the Segal Cancer Center in Montreal a few years ago (a 200km+ cycling trek from Mtl to QC) and Tayna shaved her head in the challenge for Leucan the month her father died, in his memory (May 2012).
“When Dominik told me what he planned on doing this year for Terry Fox Foundation and his reasons, at first I was surprised of the amount of his personal money he was putting in and made sure he realized what it represented financially to him (equivalent of a few weeks of summer job salary) but I was very touched by his gesture, especially his thoughts on doing this for his Grandpa.
Axel was even more surprised and encouraged him to take on a leadership role in the efforts this year by leading by example and encouraging his fellow students to donate time and/or money to the cause.”
Dominik helped in the planning and leadership for a games night held during the Meet-the-teachers MVHS evening on September 20th, that brought in over $500 as well, to the surprise of the organizers.
Congratulations to Dominik Mathieu for honouring his beloved grandfather, doing his family proud and for encouraging his classmates to do the same, with his contribution to the Terry Fox Foundation!