So many wonderful memories of my cousin Paula. A beautiful soul.

On behalf of the Manual Osteopathic College of Canada (MOCC), please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of Paula Fayerman. Paula was our very own trauma expert at MOCC. She greatly impacted students and instructors alike in her authenticity and expertise when she taught trauma-informed care. A conversation with Paula was always grounding! She had a way to attach significance to the things that we often take for granted. We are greatly saddened by her passing and we will continue to share the wisdom that she left with us.

On a personal note: I'll always cherish how she made me feel valued and heard. Thank-you Paula!

I was deeply saddened to hear of Paula’s passing. Our paths crossed recently and I was touched by her compassion and warmth. She had a positive impact and I am reminded of the wisdom she shared. Sending condolences to Paula’s family and friends. She was a special person and will be missed.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Elephant Artist Relief Society (EAR), we extend our sincere condolences to Ms. Fayerman’s family and friends. We would like to acknowledge the donations made to EAR in her name over the past weeks and express our gratitude for this tribute of support.

I was shocked and saddened to hear about Paula's passing. I did not know Paula personally but I did follow her CJSW radio Show 'Noise' for nearly 30 years. She was kind and compassionate, you could see that. She was also a formidable intellect in her knowledge of the music world. I will miss hearing her cheerful voice. She touched more people than she knew. -Richard

When I met this cool, fun-loving, humble, bass-guitar-playing doctor at a house party in the mid 90's, I knew I had met someone special. Little did I know how much of an impact she would have on me and how much our lives would intertwine over the next 30 odd years.

As I have seen and heard from the countless stories shared by others, Paula too was a major influence in my life. She inspired, supported, and informed my career choices over the years. She emboldened me to make difficult decisions and pursue my passions. She stressed to me the importance of self-care and introduced to me many modalities to enhance mental and physical well-being: mindfulness, meditation, feldenkrais, and somatics, to name a few. She always showed interest in my pursuits and my life.

Not only that, Paula cultivated my taste in music and the arts. Many fun hours were spent together in the medical tent and running around the Calgary Folk Festival. She was my co-conspirator when I wanted to get closer to a singer or band and would help me trail them to sneak a photo or two. If I wasn't hanging out with her, I could find her at the different music stages, either taking in her favourite artists, listening intently, or busting a move on the sidelines. She could be saucy and daring too. After seeing Beats Antique last summer, she jokingly suggested we get ourselves belly dancing outfits. She probably would have!

I want to make special mention of Paula as a medical care provider. She was a healer in the truest sense of the word - "a person or thing that heals wounds, cures illness, restores health, or otherwise makes well and whole". She brought all her wisdom with her. I saw Paula in action and learned much about how to be with patients and the importance of their wellness and wholeness. Importantly, she included herself in the wellness and wholeness. She was the embodiment of trauma informed care, the guiding principles of which are safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment. Anyone who met her could feel these qualities. She understood behaviours that were fuelled by trauma and did not judge. Her accepting, kind presence allowed one to relax, let their guard down, and see a different possibility for themself and their future.She recognised the common humanity we share and treated everyone as equals. She reflected back to people all that was good in them and stoked their empowerment. As was mentioned by our colleagues at Sexual and Reproductive health, people would come out of an encounter with Paula with their lives forever changed for the better.

Although I grieve the loss of future hugs, dancing, mischief, laughing, and intense discussions, my heart is filled with joy and gratitiude for the ones that I had.

My sincere condolences to Doug, other family members, and anyone else who knew and loved Paula.

I was deeply saddened to hear of Paula's passing. Deepest condolences to Paula's loved ones. I worked with Paula for several years at The Alex Youth Health Centre. She was a ray of sunshine, and a wealth of information not only for all the young people who were her patients, but all the staff she worked with. Always a positive attitude, and a smile on her face; I looked forward to our shifts together and enjoyed working alongside her. I want the world to know the impact she had on so many people including me. She was a gift to so many and will be missed immensely.

My condolences to Doug and all of Paula's family and friends. I was so saddened to hear this news today about dear Paula, one of the loveliest and truly most special people I have ever known. I have so many fond memories over many years (close to 2 decades) of volunteering with Paula at the Medical Tent at the Calgary Folk Fest and ultimately collaborating with her very closely to co-coordinate this service until I left Calgary in 2017. I always so admired her calm, thoughtful, intelligent and generous nature and lovely sense of humour. I truly don't think I have known anyone else who made such an impact on people and had so many friends and connections! Paula could barely walk 2 feet in any direction at the Folk Fest without being heartily welcomed and hugged by those who knew and loved her. People came to the Medical Tent at the Folk Fest all the time specifically just to seek her out (without any need for medical attention!). This is such a loss, the world is an emptier place without her. I hope we can all find some comfort in knowing that Paula's memory will live on and she will never be forgotten by anyone whose life she had touched. Rest in peace, Paula. You are loved and will be so, so missed.

Doug. I am so saddened and shocked to hear of Paula’s passing. I always remember how close she and my Mom were and never failed to find her during each year’s Folk Festival to have a little chat, giggle and a bit of reminiscing about my Mum which kept her alive for me. You know Edith and her are somewhere in this universe right now stirring up some trouble. Take care of yourself. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Sharon, on behalf of the Keelaghan family

Deepest condolences Doug, family and friends of Paula .... I was deeply saddened to hear the news ..... it has been a number of years since our paths crossed but I will always cherish those fun times working together at the Calgary Folk Festival Medical Tent over many years, sharing our mutual combined passions of music and medicine..May you Rest in Peace Paula

The Little Girl with the Fluffy Black Hair across the street was always a fond Memory to me with her dear scruffy dog .... They had such Love and was always a joy to see them Together

Our Family with the Fayerman's were amongst many in our Neighbourhood

Later I went to a cool Music show .. and Alas ... There is something about that Girl with the Classic White Hair

It was her .. and later I would often listen to her Radio Show

Go Figure .. that we both like strange music

Perhaps it was something in the Air or .. The Big Power Towers near us

Her Lovely Man riding on his Unicycle

Her Beautiful Grampa tenned his Garden

Her Father which was our Doctor

These are The Things one cherish's

Well do not be sad

Or Remember

For we all may pass

But

These Memories are Forever

and as a side note

I don't always listen to the radio

But

Miss Joan gave me the message

and I'd like to think that

Paula ... sent me a message to say Goodbye

Blessings

I am so sorry for your loss, Doug, and for those of all family and friends who had the chance to love, know, or to have met Paula, a lot or a little, near or far. Julia Gaunce

Gosh where to start…Dr. Paula was a staple in my early nursing career. I recall her wonderful bedside manner with clients at the sexual and reproductive health clinic, and her incredible trust/belief in my abilities at the Alex Youth centre, and her joyful leadership with the Calgary Folk Fest Medical team. My condolences to the family. Such a loss for our city. ~ Dominique

I only knew Paula as a voice across the Atlantic but I just wanted to say how she touched lives outside of Calgary and how missed she will be. Over the years she became a fixture in my week. Something to look forward to and cheer me up. Thoughts and best wishes from Keith in Wales.

Paula will be missed by so many! I was glad to have her as my doctor for years at the Alex youth health center. I will miss you and never forget you

Doug, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I remember how kind Paula and you were to my Dad, Allan. He often spoke of the time you all traveled to Hawaii. Our family's thoughts and prayers are with you.

Love from Janice, LaVerne and families

In 1998 Paula and I were enrolled in a Teacher Training program through the Yoga Centre of Calgary. She brought an enthusiasm and wide ranging curiosity to our little group and would often help us understand the in and outs of anatomy. This would have been second nature to her and she was always supportive of her fellow students. Paula’s far reaching mind became apparent in one of our assignments on yoga philosophy. If I’m not mistaken she was exploring the concepts of atman and Brahma and while her presentation was exceedingly thorough and involved an impressive bibliography, she brought the discussion to our group in a warm and accessible manner. She was our Jnana yogi or one who sought liberation through the mind.

Well it turned out that YYC program was only going to be a stepping stone for Paula on her path. I would see her annually at the Calgary Folkfest and hear about her studies in Feldenkrais, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Somatics, Meditation, and the list went on. I remember running into her briefly in an elevator where she shared that she’d just returned from South America and time with a shaman there. And while this list of accomplishments could be construed as a collection of sorts, I knew that Paula’s learning intentions were pure and that she integrated her learning and shared it widely. I had the privilege to work with her there a handful of times at the sexual health clinic and would witness a depth of care that could go in different directions and inevitably would provide the client with a wholistic type of care in the true sense of the word. Paula as healer was legendary.

And then there was Paula the lover of arts and culture. I recall hearing that she played the saxophone? Doug, is this true? And I remember asking her about her show Noise and what “type of music” this was? She would just laugh and offer up an explanation that I didn’t quite grasp. Eventually, I tuned in late one evening and heard her paying tribute to the artists she played in her true invested spirit. Wow, I thought, she really does live in so many different directions!

Paula, I want to give thanks to you for ever so much. For the Feldenkrais session where my vision was actually crystal clear for a few minutes. How does that work? We were just lying on our stomachs, turning our heads….Thanks for putting me onto Michael Franti and Spearhead at Folkfest, I danced alongside you and we had fun making some noise! For helping me study for orthopedic assessments; for offering support and wise insight to our Downtown clinic staff when we’d just heard about another upcoming workplace disruption; for teaching me about that little meridian point below the nose to press to help relieve uterine pain. For the drawing of the Buddha…

And our last couple conversations where I left you and Doug and was healed in a way I never expected. One of those lessons in letting go and knowing that everythng’s going to be OK. Wise woman you are, beloved Paula. See you down the road, friend.

Hi Doug,

I was saddened for you to learn of Paula's passing...

As you reflect on your time together, may the many, many memories and vignettes of chats, laughs, trips and special moments of shared time bring you comfort ...

Respectfully,

Israel Lachovsky

I like to send my deepest sympathy and condolences to all the friends and families of Dr. Paula Fayerman.

As a fellow long-time radio programmer at CJSW, I'll always remember Paula as the most welcoming, down-to-earth, and just very pleasant individual to hang out with. She even co-hosted several funding drive editions of my late-night radio show, and each time, she would try to out-do my intense on-air personality by speaking in her most "angry" voice to encourage listener donations! I'm pretty sure this did the trick, as this made for some of the wildest radio moments ever!

Thank you Paula for all the joys and laughs. You'll be missed greatly by us all.