KISHA FERGUSON Obituary

Deeply sad to hear this news. I met Kisha in Jasper, Canada in 2003. We had a fantastic evening chatting and I thought she was wonderfully interesting and engaging. Rest in peace.

Only today did I learn of this beautiful spirit's passing. My deepest sympathy to her mom Jeanne. Nothing compares to the loss of one's child, no matter how old. I knew Kisha in her formative years (1980s and 90s), being friends with her mother. Kisha accomplished so much in her life. Such exuberance and creativity will be missed. My heart goes out to her family and friends.

I first met Kisha in high school, where she stood out among an outstanding cohort of funny, smart, curious humans. Then, in 1996, Kisha gave me my first opportunity to get published as a travel writer and photographer for her startup Outpost Magazine with Chris Frey. I wrote and photographed for the magazine into the early 2020s all thanks to Kisha inviting me in when I was still a pup. In the summer of 2023, she reached out to me to discuss story ideas for Zoomer magazine (where she was working), proving once again that Kisha didn't see the world as a zero sum game. She didn't see other writers as her competition -- but rather as potential collaborators. She was generous and fierce and had a way of always making you feel welcomed into her world. I can't count the numbers of times she would say, "Between you and me" and then drop a nugget that illuminated some insider knowledge or intrigue. As difficult as it was, I feel privileged to have visited her at her bedside, to tell her what she meant to me and to the world-at-large with her life and her work (she really did have so much more to give). Kisha's funeral, celebration of life, and these message boards honouring her have all confirmed that when you live deeply, something gravitational happens, and good people join your orbit. Kisha may have left this earthly world too soon, but her gravitational influence will remain strong in all of us.

To Kisha's family and friends - I am so saddened to hear of Kisha's passing. We always talked about adventure and cats! I was so very happy to see her come home from Turkey. What a brave, proud and beautiful person.

Good bye Kisha. Jarvisites forever.

I'm so sorry to hear of Kisha's passing. She played a formative role in my development during the Outpost Magazine days, partnering with me in various 'world music' initiatives. I remember how hard she worked at that time, and how her vision of an inclusive world resonated for many of us, years before society would catch up. My heart goes out to Kisha's family and friends, that you find community in this time of loss. RIP Kisha

May your hearts be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. I remember Kisha and Jason would come to visit us during the summer with her dad, Steven Ferguson when we were young. Those memories will last forever in my heart.

I am so sadden to hear that Kisha has died. She was an incredible open spirit. She has given numerous opportunities. She always trusted her instincts, and had confidence in the people. Firstly with Outpost where my wife and I were commissioned to travel far and wide. Later she introduced me to Sephardic voices, and very recently, just last October where she trusted me to work on her new TVO show. I consider her a friend. She will be greatly missed.

I don´t know if I have the words to describe what I´m feeling, but I´ll try. First and foremost is gratitude: Kisha was the first person to publish my work those many many years ago when she was running Outpost magazine. She made me believe my dreams were possible and without her, my life would have been something very different. Over the years, she became the kind of friend and mentor you really only see in those vaguely plausible Hollywood stories. She was larger than life in that way. When she was joyful, she was radiant; when she was outraged, she was intoxicating; even her cynicism was inspiring. I´ll never meet anyone like her again.

Kisha always made an impact wherever she went. I worked with her many years ago at the CBC for a very short time but a memorable one. My condolences to Kisha´s family. She clearly made an impact everywhere she went. May her memory be eternal.

So sad to hear of Kisha´s illness and passing. A friend throughout high school she had an irrepressible brightness and spirit.

I miss Kisha so much already. We met in high school and stayed friends all throughout life's travels, always meeting back up in Toronto to reconnect. She was a force of nature with so many big ideas and revelatory opinions - and also a big hilarious goof that you could just be stupid with, railing at the world together. Her perspective on life always felt so unique to me and every time we spoke - mostly by phone lately since we weren't living in the same city - I felt energized and determined to keep creating, working - getting the most out of life. It's so painful to witness her passing - it squeezes my heart so hard right now that I feel disoriented. But her parting gift has been connecting her friends together from all over the world (UK, Germany, Australia, Turkey and more...). We've been sharing stories and photos and tributes and even helping Doug to get the details right on this piece! I think she would have loved the idea of her friends doing a group-edit rushing to meet a deadline : ) Thank you for being my dear friend, Kisha. You are so, so loved.

I'm so saddened to hear of Kisha's passing. We worked together years ago at the CBC where she quickly became a friend and mentor. I remember backyard BBQs at her place, meeting up for drinks, and just simply enjoying being in the warmth of her presence. Always ready to lend an ear or share a hearty laugh, Kisha was a bright light I won't soon forget. My deepest condolences to her family and friends. Shine on, Kisha.