In Memoriam

Dale Edward Charles Pickering

Born

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

April 14, 1958

Passed Away

Calgary, Alberta

November 2, 1976

Age

18 years

On the 50th anniversary of his sudden passing, we remember Dale “Pick” Pickering, a beloved son, brother, and student.

One of his teachers, Dick Spencer, wrote the following poem in his memory:

ON THE DEATH OF MY STUDENT

I’ll remember you ‘Pick’.

You gave more than you got, pal.

And you gave me a lot.

And when they came in concerts, pairs,

And quietly, self-consciously by themselves–

My students, to ask if I knew that you were dead,

I told them that I did, and tried to hide

A tremor in my voice,

Because teachers ring loud and clear–you hear!

They have no tremors and no fear!

I can see you smile at that!

I remember the classroom door shoved open

Morning after morning. There you’d be with Les

Or other guys–or just alone to “rap”.

You’d come pushing in with teenage morning

Frazzle-tumble, in ancient, trusted Adidas–

Heroic Adidas–embattled veteran gear.

And worn jeans and black T-shirt,

Fussed up like a tuxedo.

What a marvel, ‘Pick’, that T-shirt was

With its dip of white front and its black tie startle!

I’ve never seen another.

I remember you, ungainly guy, full of nature!

That hunch and loose walk, bunting the air

With good shoulders, as if marching at a sheet

Of tin-foil, hung to slow your young advance.

I won’t forget that instant flash of smirk-grin

Below the bit of wisp mustache. Just a flutter

On the boy-man’s lip,

When you told me secrets. And we laughed.

I remember the ‘sometimes’ when you let me see behind the imp.

Where there were hurts.

Well, guy–no more scolding for school-work chores undone.

No more dreary reel of admonition about the ‘world out there’.

No more burning look or sharp shout, “on your mark”!

You’re free now, pal!

And ‘Pick’, I’m grateful that your visits

And your laughter and your kid-stuff and your charm

Were mine for a little while and told me

In trumpets that I wasn’t just

Another teacher on your Semester I form.

by Dick Spencer

This poem was written by Dale’s English teacher, Dick Spencer (former teacher and Mayor of Prince Albert), who captured the spirit of the young man he knew. On this anniversary, we share it once more in remembrance.

Forever missed.

— The Pickering Family

• Date : 2026-11-02
• Location : Prince Albert