
We’ve all had those CKUA “moments” when a piece of music connects with us in ways that almost feel personal or individual. We recently spoke with Shane Turgeon, an Edmonton business owner and photographer, who told us about his.
On October 17, Turgeon was on his way to Edmonton from Pincher Creek. He stopped to put air in his tires, and when he got back into his vehicle, he heard Madeleine Peyroux’s cover of Warren Zevon’s song “Keep Me in Your Heart.” It was chosen by host Amy van Keeken and played during her late-night program, Twilight.
Just six days earlier, Turgeon had said goodbye to one of his dearest friends, his dog Kwinn. To hear words like “If I leave you, it doesn’t mean I love you any less” and “Hold me in your thoughts” was almost too on-point to be believed.
We’ve heard from many listeners over the years that pets are real companions, and Turgeon certainly agrees with this. “When I got Kwinn she was a nightmare; she destroyed the house. But then she turned into the best dog. I’m a nature photographer, and she loved going out on the road with me.”
Turgeon and Kwinn established a beautiful routine, heading out on the highway together, and being in nature. “I’m adrift without it now,” says Turgeon. “Dogs become such a huge part of ourselves. The true cost of unconditional love is inconsolable grief. It’s so worth it. I wouldn’t trade the time I had with her for anything.”
Turgeon loves taking pictures of the night sky, and he was able to include Kwinn in many trips, including one last, significant one. After her cancer diagnosis in September, Kwinn was Turgeon’s sidekick for her last weeks, as he sought to photograph the night sky.
“I own a place in Pincher Creek, which is where I discovered CKUA. We went on one last trip there, and I had nine days with her. Two days later she passed.”
When he returned to southern Alberta in October, without Kwinn, he was chasing a visible comet in the night sky, hoping to get a good photograph.
“Over the first three nights, I was just looking, trying to get my bearings. Uncanny things happened. There were signs that were impossible to ignore. I shot the comet three nights in a row then we had a few days of cloud. On the Thursday it cleared in Pincher Creek, and I wanted to go back out to that spot that we had shared 12 days before. As I was coming back, I got this photo. On my drive back, I heard the Warren Zevon song.”
Turgeon was moved to send a text message to his friend Marc Carnes, CKUA’s CEO. It contains both the grief and gratitude that Turgeon continues to feel. As he adjusts to life without Kwinn, he can see some silver linings in the midst of his loss. “She was an incredible dog and a wonderful adventure buddy. It feels good to share that with other people, just how great she was. She did more than most people ever will. She’s literally climbed mountains and chased storms and crossed the prairies. She stood in the ocean. She had an incredible life and she helped me so much.”
For his part, Marc Carnes said that hearing from Shane gave him goosebumps. “I received Shane’s text just as we were kicking off our fall fundraiser. It was a reminder of the power of music in our lives, and CKUA’s unique role in fostering that connection and comfort when we need it most. That’s ultimately what we fundraise for.”