Some people help us become better at what we do. Others deepen our understanding of why we do it.
Peter Legge, my mentor and friend, did both.
His passing leaves me with sadness and profound gratitude. His mentorship enriched my perspective on speaking, storytelling, and writing. A master of all three, Peter had a remarkable gift for finding wisdom in everyday experiences.
Reflecting on his life, I see the qualities at the heart of SPARK: Service, Purpose, Attraction, Resilience, and Knowing. Peter embodied these qualities through his work, relationships, and community contributions.
Service – Give More Than You Take
When Peter was eleven, his father shared seven principles to guide his life. One was to give back to the community more than he took.
Peter honored that advice throughout his life. As co-host of the Variety Club Telethon supporting children’s charities, he helped raise more than $150 million. His service earned him numerous honors, including the Order of British Columbia in 2008.
Behind these achievements were years of showing up, lending his voice and inspiring others to give.
Peter reminds us that service is a lifelong commitment. Generosity becomes a lasting force when we make room for it in our lives.
Purpose—Dream Big, Create Meaningful Impact
Peter encouraged people to dream boldly and give their ambitions direction. Wanting to be rich and happy was a starting point; meaningful goals required clarity about what we wanted to achieve and how we would get there.
He also urged us to balance achievement across career, health, family, spiritual growth, and education. His vision of success embraced not only accomplishment but also the relationships and values that give it meaning.
Purpose connects ambition with impact. When we know what matters, we can direct our time, talent, and resources towards work that benefits others.
Peter’s example invites us to ask: Are our goals worthy of the energy we invest in them—and whose lives could be better because we pursue them?
Attraction—Cultivate the Conditions for Achievement
Peter encouraged people to be resourceful, creative,, and inventive. He urged us to take initiative and deliver such excellent work that others would want to return and recommend us to others.
His advice gives Attraction a practical foundation. Quality work builds trust, generates interest, and creates opportunities. Achievement grows when we develop our abilities and give others compelling reasons to believe in what we offer.
Peter also understood how profoundly the people around us shape our ambitions, habits, and choices. He urged us to choose our companions carefully. Those who challenge our thinking, encourage our growth, and hold us accountable can help us achieve more than we could alone.
Attraction, then, is an active responsibility: bring initiative and excellence to your work, build relationships that help you grow, and create value that draws others towards a shared purpose.
Resilience—Grow Through Struggle
Peter’s emphasis on persistence, patience,, and a positive attitude speaks to a fundamental truth: meaningful ambitions require us to work through difficulty.
Struggle tests our commitment. Progress slows, confidence falters, and familiar approaches stop working. Peter’s encouragement to be resourceful and take initiative reminds us to learn, adapt, and keep moving when the way forward is uncertain.
Resilience grows through the choices we make in adversity. We seek guidance, adjust our approach, and persevere with what matters. A positive attitude helps us recognize possibilities even when circumstances are difficult.
Peter’s example reminds us that struggle can strengthen both our capabilities and our character. We honor his legacy by meeting challenges with patience, courage, and a willingness to grow.
Knowing—Test Your Convictions to Grow
Peter placed integrity at the heart of success. He also valued mentors who guided, encouraged, and held him accountable. Together, these principles offer a deeper understanding of Knowing: developing convictions that guide us while remaining open to learning and reflection.
We deepen our Knowing by asking whether our choices honor our values, listening when others challenge us and recognizing when convenience clouds our judgment.
Of the seven principles his father shared, Peter considered integrity the most important. He understood the responsibility behind a promise and the trust that makes relationships possible.
His example reminds us that Knowing is more than intellectual understanding. It is an inner conviction that guides our choices, especially when doing the right thing is not the easiest option.
Peter leaves us much to celebrate. I will remember him with particular gratitude for his mentorship, his contributions, and the values he inspired me to practice.
To his wife, Kay, his daughters, and all who loved him, we offer our heartfelt condolences.
Thank you, Peter, for helping me grow. Your guidance remains woven into my work, and your example continues to inspire me to serve.
You were—and will remain—a SPARK legend.
PODCAST with Peter Legge:
Peter Legge Interviews Azim Jamal: Igniting Inspiration with ‘Spark