Peter Allan Giroux

Peter Allan Giroux died peacefully at Casey House in Toronto, Ontario, on June 17, 2024, at the age of 68. Peter was born in Sudbury in August 1955 to parents Evelyn M. Stockman and John A. Giroux, both predeceased. He is survived by husband Michel Paquin, sister Mary Lou La Rochelle, niece Kim Giroux and nephews Brian Giroux, Jean-Paul La Rochelle, Chris Rice and Troy Rice, and was predeceased by brothers John Giroux (Alice), Ted Rice (Nancy) and infant sister, Teresa. He also leaves behind his mother-in-law Nicole David Paquin, his brother-in-law Christian Paquin (Heather) as well as Geneviève Beaudoin and Benoît Paquin, respectively Michel’s niece and nephew. 

Peter attended St Thomas Primary School and the Sudbury Technical School before moving to Toronto in his late teens, where he set out to live his life in the burgeoning LGBTQ community, eventually holding the banner with a dozen other people when 300 individuals marked the first anniversary of the infamous Bathhouse Raids and actively participating in many demonstrations and events of his community. He last worked in sales at the Hudson Bay Company store at Yonge and Bloor in Toronto, where his dedication and professionalism were greatly appreciated.

After leaving the Bay at the height of the AIDS epidemic to focus on his health, Peter served in different capacities as a volunteer when he could manage to do so, notably assisting with tax return preparation and budgeting. His kind and thoughtful manner made him popular in all settings, particularly when obtaining services at stores and health care facilities. 

In their 34 years together, Peter and Michel successfully navigated numerous health-related/personal situations and shared a special bond based on their hearing loss, their common values and their interest in movies and the visual arts. They loved watching classic fare together and learning as much as they could on each film. They also spent countless days wandering around Toronto and other Ontario cities taking thousands of pictures, discussing architectural styles, photography, and local history. 

Peter was an excellent photographer who often spent several hours each day visiting a specific neighborhood to capture its charms in various lighting conditions. In the last few years of his life, he chiefly focused on painting and drawing, talents he only wished he had discovered sooner and that resulted in many pieces he displayed with pride. He seldom attended his chemotherapy treatments without drawing his surroundings on his tablet with an electronic pencil and often gifted the results to individual oncology staff members.

He will be fondly remembered for his kindness, his thoughtfulness, his creativity, and his courage. Friends and family are encouraged to donate to Casey House, where he passed away in the community he loved.