NOVEMBER 25, 1983 ~ MARCH 18, 2024
About Matthew’s Life
Matthew was the beloved husband of Veronique Lemay and the loving father of his young daughters, Adeline and Flora Chapman-Lemay. Matthew also leaves behind his devoted parents, Rose and Lorne Chapman, his sister Jennifer Dickens Chapman, and her two children, Ava and Evan. He is also survived by numerous extended family members, colleagues, neighbours, and friends.
Matthew’s life was defined by kindness, curiosity, and purpose.
Over four decades, he pursued a wide array of passions with dedication. From being a free spirit to excelling as a trampolinist, an entrepreneur, a versatile musician, and a dedicated educator, he embodied the essence of a dreamer.
His dreams extended beyond himself as he tirelessly worked to protect the environment, envisioning a world free from greed and inequality.
His primary focus was on nurturing the planet, not only for its own sake but also for a future where marginalized communities would be uplifted.
Matthew was fortunate to grow up in a family that instilled values of personal responsibility, charitable giving, and respect for all individuals. His perspective was greatly enriched during his experiences living and working in diverse locations such as Zanzibar, Hong Kong, Egypt, and Colombia.
Matt was a dedicated advocate for climate action and sustainability.
Through his work at Climate Reality Canada, Matt equipped volunteers across the country to impact municipal policies in order to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
He created the Community Climate Hubs program and the National Climate League, to engage communities in gathering sustainability data and presented it in an annual benchmarking publication that pushed communities to do better for the planet. His leadership drove meaningful progress in climate change advocacy and empowered individuals to make a difference.
Matt and Vero bought an island in the St. Lawrence, just East of Montreal. It was Matt’s passion project to make it a home for activists to gather, to host eco-retreats, and foster a model of participative democracy. The island would become a symbol of the transition towards carbon neutrality in the spirit of an organized adventure. Long term, the idea was to give the land back to the indigenous peoples it belonged to, as a gift from citizens during the 400th anniversary of the city of Montreal (2042).
Matthew also founded the Montréal Climate Coalition, which aims to influence political and organizational leaders, institutions, and citizens to act in a concrete and bold way to get the City of Montreal to reach carbon neutrality by 2042, the 400th anniversary of the City of Montreal. Matthew had a great unifying style of leadership and immeasurable generosity, which rallied people from different backgrounds to actively engage them in a just and equitable ecological transition for the Montreal community.
Matthew’s memory will be forever cherished, and his legacy will continue to inspire all who knew him.
Service
This Moment Now
Wibi Choir & Aaron Jensen, friend
Welcome & Prayer
JOnathan Smith, pastor
Goodness of God
Margaret Lim, friend
Compassion Poem
WRITTEN BY MATTHEW
READ BY AVA DICKENS, NIECE
& Evan Dickens, nephew
Tributes
Stephen alton, cousin & Owen Alton, uncle
KAYLEE ALTON , COUSIN
You’re Still God
Margaret Lim, friend
Tributes
VÉRO LEMAY, SPOUSE
JENNIFER CHAPMAN, SISTER
LORNE & ROSE CHAPMAN, PARENTS
Flora & Ady
Matthew’s daughters
Tears in Heaven
Jordy Hedderwick, Chris James,
Daniel MacEachern, Arthur Wright
Friends
Tributes
Liz Oxford, Aunt
Pastor’s Message
Jonathan Smith
Prayer
Keith Smith, pastor
Amazing Grace
Saj McKenley & Kat Montanera, friends
Recessional
J’ai demandé à la lune
†
Choir
Qwyn Alexis, Gianna Antonacci, Dylan Bell,
Shawna Caspi, Vania Chan, Jay Clipperton,
Ori Dagan, Icarus Devdas, Jeremy Found,
Kat Montanera, Seanna Murphy,
Tara Park, Suba Sankaran
Instrumentalists
Dave Smith, keyboard and vocal;
Heather Crawford, guitar;
Kat Montanera, saxophone
Compassion Poem
I undertake to shed light on the riddle we address. What quintessential skill must a manager possess?
Though true in ages past, an iron fist secured domain, I advocate an odd approach, a little more humane.
An approach that takes to task the dogma of the dollar, and places little value on the colour of ones collar.
It is, perhaps, a rosy view to think we’ll lift our gaze from green, aspire to more than déjà vu and demonstrate humanity.
A manager’s success hinges not on cliché recipes, it far transcends the bottom line and increased equity.
Success defined in such base terms is incomplete at best, and underplays the human element – those dispossessed.
How then to lead them in our change, to guide inspire and steer? Is it by whip and sword and chain or something more austere?
By calculations callously contrived and engineered? Or minimizing costs regardless of the biosphere?
It is, perhaps, a rosy view to think we’ll lift our
gaze from green, aspire to more than déjà vu and demonstrate humanity.
To get the best of those you lead one also needs to give, dignity and self-respect, be willing to forgive.
At once demand of them their best, and never let them doubt, your true concern for them and those they care most about.
What then is this magic balm, this mother of all values? What skill or trait should managers relentlessly pursue?
Communication’s not the trick, though it’s a noble aim, For it alone confers neither devotion nor acclaim.
My friends, I speak of nothing less than cultivating this, which edifies both you and them – a trait that is priceless.
One that is shared, straight from the heart, it won’t go out of fashion. Today may I suggest a trait none other than compassion.
It is, perhaps, a rosy view to think we’ll lift our gaze from green, aspire
to more than déjà vu and demonstrate humanity.
A note of thanks
The family is profoundly grateful for
the outpouring of support we have received.
Thank you for sharing your time and resources – whether to help Véro and the girls, assisting with services, sharing your Matt stories, giving your condolences or praying for us.