Commonwealth Games family mourns loss of Erika Heller

On Thursday May 28, 2009, Erika Heller succumbed to cancer at the age of 31. She was a treasured member of the Commonwealth Games family and the daughter of former Hbc CEO George Heller. In an article printed in the Globe and Mail on May 29, 2009, her father calls her his "warrior princess' for her passionate and determined outlook on life.

"I remember her infectious smile and that sparkle in her eyes", said Thomas Jones, CEO of CGC. "She was fiercely protective of her father and truly loved the Commonwealth Games; she will always be a much loved member of our Commonwealth family". Erika was first exposed to the Games when her father was the chief executive of the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, BC, and she later served as an Hbc Volunteer for Team Canada at the 2002 Games in Manchester, England and remained involved through attendance at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Andrea Guzzo, a close friend of Erika's and former Director of Corporate Development for CGC, said "Erika was absolutely determined in everything she did, and her fight with cancer was truly heroic right to the end. All the while, she made the problems of others seem more important than her own".

Funeral services for Erika were held in Toronto on the weekend, where her father expressed thanks on behalf of the Heller family for the outpouring of support. Donations may be made to Colon Cancer Canada (www.coloncancercanada.ca), and the "Look Good, Feel Better" campaign (www.lgfb.ca) of Helping Women with Cancer for which she was the National Spokeswoman.

"Our prayers are with the Heller family", said CGC President Andrew Pipe. "Her time among us was far too short but we will always treasure those moments and the great contributions she made".

Commonwealth Games Canada would like to invite personal comments about Erika and her involvement with the Commonwealth Games. Please send your thoughts to George Heller directly, or to CGC at info@commonwealthgames.ca or by visiting a Memorial site http://www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=3033424. Through this site, you are invited to share your thoughts and fond memories with the Heller Family by leaving both written and spoken Guest Book messages.