When I received the Canadian Opera Centre's email yesterday I was deeply saddened. In it the C.O.C. explained - with grief-filled terseness - that Richard Bradshaw passed away Wednesday evening. How unfair it seems that this man could commit so much energy and talent to the city and not live to fully share in the result of that cultural passion. The Four Seasons Centre owes its existence to Mr. Bradshaw. He was able to unite the city's cultural and financial communities around the building project in a way that is now legend. His team had an idea for an opera house that, in spite of limited budgets and vocal critics, blossomed into one of the city's and indeed the country's great cultural spaces. What better way to live a life with meaning than to leave such a legacy for other to enjoy? We share the sadness and loss of Mr. Bradshaw with his family, friends, and coworkers. Maybe an even greater loss is borne by the audiences who will never enjoy a C.O.C. production the way it should be: with Mr. Bradshaw proudly leading the orchestra in his truly world-class music hall.