Teacher was an unsung Ottawa hero

On June 30, Ottawa lost one of its unsung heroes. Don Laver, known to most of his students as “Mr. Laver,” passed away peacefully, leaving a void in the hearts of many students who were blessed to have his mentorship.

Don Laver was many things: a talented vocalist who had performed for the Queen, a musician with the Canadian Armed Forces Band, and a volunteer percussion teacher whose presence graced the halls of Featherston Drive Public School for many years.

For those who know Featherston School, it is a multicultural mosaic that reflects Canada’s diversity. Mr. Laver made it his mission to bring the joy of percussion music to hundreds of children at the school over countless years. He understood that rhythm and beats were a universal language that transcended barriers. His “Bongo Bang Boom” drum band did just that on a weekly basis.

The students who benefited from Mr. Laver’s tutelage, me included, became better people for it.

He passed along the values of dedication and persistence, the importance of comradeship, and the value of breaking down barriers through music. His gregarious personality and love of life were infectious.

The last time I saw Mr. Laver was at a party celebrating his contributions to the community. He was deeply humbled by the recognition and said thank you in the best way he knew how: He sang Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”

I know that somewhere now, he is still singing that song, knowing that the world is indeed a more wonderful place because he was part of it. Jeremy A. Roberts, Ottawa