The History of Me, Pt 2
Editor: Reggie wrote “The History of Me” while he was in treatment, but his account ends in 1996. His story continued for another nine years.
The chronology below was originally compiled by our family after Reggie’s death. It has since been updated as additional letters, records and other documents have helped us reconstruct the final years of his life.
1997
| Jan. 22 | Enters detox. |
| Jan. 29 | His dog, Slash, is killed shortly before a planned police operation involving him. |
| Feb. 13 | Travels to Halifax to get another dog, Zeke. |
| Feb. | Mum and Dad buy him a computer. |
| May | His house is raided and he is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. |
| May 13 | Returns to detox. |
| May 26 | His daughter is born while he is in detox. |
| June 2 | Enters treatment at Queens. |
| June 23 | Appears in court. |
| July 13 | His daughter is christened. |
| Fall | Takes a Professional Writing course at UPEI. |
1998
| Feb. | Is admitted to Unit 9 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. |
| Feb. 7 | His belongings are moved from the family home in Stratford as his wife and children move to Red Point. |
| Feb. 9 | Is transferred to detox. |
| Feb. 18 | Is returned by the RCMP. |
| Feb. 20 | Is transferred to Souris. |
| Mar. 5 | Appears in court. |
| Mar. 30 | Enters Lonewater Farm in New Brunswick for treatment. |
| May | Is discharged from Lonewater after drinking. |
| May 22 | Returns to Talbot House. |
| Aug. | Days of Wine and Beer goes into bankruptcy. |
| Sept. | Enters the Homewood treatment centre in Guelph, Ontario. |
1999
| June | Begins serving his sentence at Sleepy Hollow Provincial Correctional Centre. |
| Sept. | Has a parole hearing. |
2000
| Mar. | Is released from Sleepy Hollow. |
| July | Appeals a decision denying him financial assistance for June and July. The appeal is unsuccessful. |
| Aug. | Requests another review of the decision. |
2001
| Mar. | Is abducted over a disputed drug debt. The RCMP intercepts the vehicle before it leaves Prince Edward Island. |
| Apr. | Moves to Toronto and finds work at Toronto Island Airport. |
| Fall | Lives in a Toronto boarding house while working at the airport and attending an unidentified school or course. |
2002
| Winter | Loses his job at Toronto Island Airport following changes to airport security requirements after September 11, 2001. Our family’s understanding is that his criminal record prevented him from meeting the security requirements necessary for the position. |
2003
| 2003–04 | Works in advertising sales for Phone Directories Company in Ontario. |
| Oct. 11 | Is arrested in Toronto. He is subsequently released under conditions that include seeking or maintaining employment and counselling or treatment for cocaine use. |
2004
| 2004–05 | Works for Metroland in Ontario, selling directory advertising and working on specialty publications. |
2005
| Early | Leaves Metroland on good terms. |
| May 17 | Returns to Prince Edward Island after several years in Ontario. |
| June 1 | Applies for an advertising sales position, writing that he hopes to remain in the Maritimes, preferably Halifax. |
| Summer–Fall | Spends time with his parents and children in Souris while continuing to deal with addiction and receiving treatment. |
| Nov. | A dispute temporarily threatens his methadone treatment. |
| Dec. 6 | Leaves his parents’ home in Souris and disappears. |
| Dec. | A major search begins. |
2006
| May | His car is found, leading to an intensive RCMP search of the surrounding area. |
| June | Human remains are discovered and subsequently identified as Reggie. |
| June | His family holds a memorial service. |