Obituary of *Peter (Postponed) James Gracie
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Due to inclement weather we will be postponing the memorial gathering
scheduled for today to a later date
On January 5th, 2026, a few days after ringing in the new year, Peter James Gracie passed away in his sleep at his home in Hamilton, Ontario. Peter was a loyal friend, father and brother, helpful to any and everyone and kind to a fault. A lover of the arts, of literature, and history, he spent his life using his imagination, hard work and theatrical talents behind the scenes to make the show come alive. His life is well documented through the many, many photographs taken by himself, his friends, and his loved ones.
He is predeceased by his parents, Pamela Edith Chilcott Gracie (d2013) and James Alexander Gracie (d2014) and his father-in-law Glen Angus Macdonald (d1996). He is mourned by his daughter, Harriet, his sister Carol, his brother Alexander and his wife Muriel and their 3 children, as well as Harriet’s mother Meredith Macdonald and her extended family, especially her brother Trevor and mother Sharon.
Born in Tasmania, Australia on March 8th, 1968, he moved to England with his family and then came to Canada in 1973. His family eventually settled in Burlington, Ontario. He was well travelled- having spent time in the UK and South Africa, to name a few- and was working towards going back to Australia.
Peter was a lover of the outdoors, and Camp Huronda, in Huntsville Ontario, held a special place in his heart. Huronda was a magical place, and in 1978 Peter became part of that magic immediately. After his time as a camper, he went back to work as staff, first as a CIT and counsellor, but quickly finding his way to the Trip Hut- the part of camp dedicated to understanding and communing with nature. He was truly at home there and was loved by the campers and fellow staff. Even after his time at camp, Peter stayed involved through planning and attending reunions and events.
He was a lifelong Type One Diabetic, diagnosed at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto at the wee age of 7. Passionate about quality of life for fellow diabetics, Peter was a dedicated and active participant in diabetic research at Mount Sinai Hospital. He was enrolled in the Diabetes Complication and Control Trial (DCCT) very soon after his diagnosis, and later, he joined the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study. His participation in these endeavours continues to advance the treatment and care of diabetics around the world. As research around the condition progressed, he would volunteer to test any new medical technology as it came to him.
Peter was a theatre technician, and a member of IATSE his whole adult life. He was in the acting programme at George Brown College for one year and quickly realised that performing wasn’t for him. He then enrolled in the Niagara College technical theatre programme. He came to work at the Shaw Festival Theatre after graduation and never looked back. He thrived in the creative environment of The Court House Theatre where he brought his innate ability to fix, rig, shift, jiggle, or move just about anything with nothing more than a hank of rope and a lifetime of ingenuity. He had the most fun at The Court House, but loved every show he ever worked on, and was definitely most at home sitting in the dark, poised with cat-like readiness, waiting to leap into action. His health prevented him from fulfilling his plan to work on Theatre Aquarius’s production of Frozen this past winter, but he was looking forward to the spring and another season backstage at The Court House. We would like to thank everyone at Aquarius for their kindness and support during this difficult time.
Peter was a lover of animals, and cared for many, ranging from cats, to dogs, to fish, to gerbils, to birds, to cats again, most recently Rufus, Douglas, and Thelma. He spent the last few years fostering and rehabilitating stray cats and rescues in concert with Ninth Life Cat Rescue Ontario.
A gentle soul who wouldn’t leave anyone behind, he leaves a great empty space in all of our hearts.
Peter's final resting place will be with the Green Burial Ground at St John’s Public Cemetery in Lincoln.
Due to inclement weather we will be postponing the memorial gathering to a later date
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ninth Life Cat Rescue Ontario by using the Donations Tab on his home page.
Uniquely entrusted to eco Crematin & Burial Services Inc.
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