By Terry Fleurie

With notes from Gerald Tracey

Eganville  — The wider Eganville community continues to mourn the shocking and tragic loss of a young woman who impacted many lives through her work at the local daycare facility, as well as her other community involvement.

Police officers responded to a 911 call at a residence on Maple Street around 9 p.m. Wednesday, January 25 where they found the resident of the home deceased. She was identified as Lisa Sharpe (Gagnon), a well-known and longtime staff member of the Ketcha Star Daycare Centre and a parttime receptionist in the office of chiropractor, Dr. Kathleen Doran.

One person was taken into custody just before noon on Friday when police officers apprehended a suspect on Highway 60, about three kms west of Eganville near the Hwy. 41 intersection.

Trey Gagnon, Ms. Sharpe’s 18-year-old son from Laurentian Valley Township, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The investigation by the Renfrew County Crime Unit of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, is ongoing. It is being assisted by the OPP Forensic Identification Unit and is being conducted in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Services.

The OPP issued a statement notifying members of the Eganville community they could expect to see a continued police presence in the area as the investigation continues and that continued into the early week.

Statement From Daycare

Ms. Sharpe’s death was a shock to the wider Eganville community where she was very well known through her involvement at the daycare facility, with the local minor hockey association and other activities.

The staff and board of directors of Ketcha Star Daycare issued a statement in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“We have lost not only a co-worker, but also a friend and beautiful soul. Lisa had a heart of gold and would light up the room with her contagious smile. She was not only a friend, but also a mother, a daughter, an aunt and a sister.

“Lisa was an early childhood educator for 25 years and touched the lives of so many children, families, staff and the entire community as a whole. She also worked as a receptionist and interacted with so many others.

“Lisa certainly carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and despite these struggles she was able to be strong in front of the people and young children who were with her daily. Lisa was such an advocate for mental health and wellbeing. She worked tirelessly and exhausted every avenue to get her family the help they needed.

“At this time we are asking for your patience as we work through our grief and remember Lisa. We appreciate the overwhelming support from our community.

“In honour of Lisa, we will continue to strive to carry on Lisa’s mission of advocating for mental health supports and to hopefully make change so that the system doesn’t fail another family.”

Wednesday Girl Is Gone

“Our Wednesday Girl is gone. And we are devastated.” 

Lisa worked at Dr. Doran’s chiropractic clinic in Eganville since 2019. A bright spot in the middle of the week, Lisa was jokingly and lovingly referred to as our ‘Wednesday Girl’.

“And while we worked closely with her over these past four years, we were privileged to become true friends.   

“In the workplace, Lisa consistently demonstrated care and compassion for our patients. Lisa had a strong work ethic. She set high standards for herself both at work and beyond. Lisa was a joy to work with. She was a conscientious, hard worker who would always strive for excellence. Lisa will be sadly missed by all who came in contact with her.

“As we come to terms with the realization of recent events, we struggle to express our emotions – our overwhelming sense of loss, our grief and our anger at the loss of our lovely co-worker and friend. And while that is a challenge, we reflect on Lisa – everyone who met her loved her. Loved the beautiful soul she was. Loved the kind, gentle, calm and sweet person she was.

“Beyond this, Lisa was always a strong advocate for mental health – always showing courage and perseverance in her struggles to get her family the help they needed. Lisa faced life’s challenges with grace. She demonstrated a ‘Mother’s Love’, striving for the services that were so desperately needed and not forthcoming. 

“My final memory of Lisa is us giggling together after work last Wednesday. We’d both forgotten our mittens – not a good thing to do in a snow storm — brushing all the snow off our cars. I waved goodbye to her, never imagining it would be my last time together with my dear friend and co-worker.

“In Lisa’s memory – follow Lisa’s example. Show love, understanding, compassion and kindness. Be a strong advocate for the mental health support services so desperately needed by so many. Be courageous. Don’t give up. Persevere. BE LISA.”

Friendship Started At Daycare

Kim Schruder of Eganville was a longtime co-worker who knew Ms. Sharpe for about 20 years.

Their relationship started through their careers at Ketcha Star and evolved into a friendship that continued until her death. Mrs. Schruder was hired in the mid-1990s and Ms. Sharpe joined the staff shortly afterwards.

“I worked 20 years at the daycare and 12 as supervisor,” she explained. “Lisa was already on staff and it was Lisa who succeeded me as supervisor.

“She was head teacher, so she was in line to take my position when I left,” she added.

Mrs. Schruder left Ketcha Star in July 2013 and Ms. Sharpe assumed the role in August 2013, holding the position until November 2014 when she chose to step down and return to working with the children.

“It’s sad; it’s heartbreaking,” Mrs. Schruder said of the tragedy. “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”

Mrs. Schruder said she and the other members of the staff, the children and families were blessed to have Ms. Sharpe on staff.

“She was calm, she was kind, she was caring, patient,” she said. “She was a true, gentle soul.

“She was a true gem and had a heart of gold,” she continued. “She always wanted the best for every little person she was with. She had a smile that would light up the room.”

She noted Ms. Sharpe was well-loved and liked by the staff, the community and any families that were clients in the facility.

“It didn’t matter what was going on in her life,” she said. “It was always about the person she was talking to. She was a big part of Ketcha Star and was loved by the staff and parents.” 

Ms. Sharpe worked primarily with preschoolers alongside Debbie Resmer.

The work relationship developed into a great friendship which Mrs. Schruder was happy to say continued after she left Ketcha Star.

“Two weeks ago, I just went to a 50^th birthday party with her and I’m so glad I had that time,” she remarked.

Her two sons, Dawson and Denver, attended the daycare and they lovingly referred to Ms. Sharpe as ‘Lisa G’.

“She helped raise them and was always a special part of their lives. Denver was actually her ring-bearer in her wedding.”

Mrs. Schruder said her friend loved the outdoors, walks, birds and flowers.

“Especially daisies, they were her favourites, and her favourite birds were cardinals,” she recalled.

Mrs. Schruder said she was notified of the tragedy through a friend, who asked her to call her ASAP Thursday morning.

“I did reach out to some of Lisa’s really good friends that morning before work because I felt they needed to know,” she said.

“I was devastated. I thought she can’t be gone,” she added. “It was like ‘no’, this couldn’t have happened.”

Considered Her A Close Friend

Kelly Reinert not only worked with and for Ms. Sharpe but was also a close friend for the last two decades. They first met when she enrolled her son, Morgan, in daycare when he was three.

“She was just an amazing person, and I continued my relationship with her outside of work as well,” she added. “We met several times and as I graduated my ECE program, I became an employee of Ketcha Star and worked under Lisa, who was the director at that time”

Ms. Reinert described Ms. Sharpe as an amazing, patient and caring person to work for.

“Just to be a part of her life was a treat,” she said. “When Morgan walked in Kim (Schruder) and Lisa were the first to greet him every day and he always had a little bit of separation anxiety, so a big hug from Lisa made a big difference. She was Miss Lisa always.”

When Ms. Reinert had to leave Ketcha Star after her cancer diagnosis, Ms. Sharpe would regularly send messages to see how she was doing.

“She was a massive support during that time just checking in with me once in a while,” she said. “She was just someone you could spend time with.”

Hearts on Helmets

The U13 Eganville Eagles hosted a tournament at the Eganville Community Centre on Sunday and Ms. Sharpe was remembered by the Eganville and District Minor Hockey Association (EDMHA). Members of the Eagles had a heart-shaped sticker on their helmets with the initials “LS “ and the number “55” which is her second son, Leo Gagnon’s jersey number with the U18 Eagles.  

A statement by the EDMHA read: “With the recent tragedy here in our hometown, we felt it was important to show Eganville’s own Lisa Sharpe some recognition.

“Lisa was a staple in our community and at one point a part of many of the EDMHA players’ lives — whether she cared for them at our local childcare facility or seeing her bright smile around the arena.

“Let’s take it up on ourselves to support mental health the way Lisa would have wanted.”

Ms. Sharpe is survived by her parents, Terry and Donna Sharpe of Pembroke; husband Dan Gagnon and sons, Trey and Leo, sister Christy Sharpe Dufour and brother, Brent.