Deepest condolences Randy, Pam, Kathy and Kim. It is so hard to lose the life that held such light and love I wish you strength as you grieve.

I have fond memories of hanging out at Karen's family's cabin as a child. A truly special person, with lovely memories!

D-Anne and I drove up to Gimli yesterday to say hello to the lake as it wakes. I insisted we go to Tergesens as "if Karen were with us, she'd want to spend time there". As we wandered, Chiquita played. And there she was.

Thank you all for your memories and condolences. It seems impossible that she's gone but I am so grateful to have loved and been loved by Karen.

Randy, I've read this obituary over and over; it reads like a compelling story. You've done a beautiful job of what seems impossible, to meaningfully reflect the essence of a person's life in just a few words. But you did it. And the photo video is just stunning.... you and Karen... such beautiful, gifted and good people.

Karen was my little sister, As I've begun to process this loss, I find myself thinking that the seeds of who she would become were clearly there in the child she was... she somehow kept a kind of innocent awe at the world's beauty and never lost her sense of play or her strong sense of justice. She was younger than me by 6 years and would often call me "big sister" in her many letters and phone calls. But often she was the wise one...I will miss the packages that would come in the mail... because it was my birthday or just because... simetimes because I was having a rough time... she would send the most interesting and lovely gatherings of soaps, teas, dark chocolate - always chocolate!- beautiful hand towels, and the like, and always wrapped so that you almost didn't want to unwrap them.... they were so pretty... with hand drawn images on her cards. She really put a lot into her gift giving and was always able to make thre right choice... She paid attention to people so that she knew what they liked. I will miss our many phone calls. which were never for only the "just 10 minutes" we'd plan for....I will always treasure the way she came to me at a time when I was really struggling, all the way across the prairies, although she was not comfortable driving great distances. She brought with her bags of measured ingredients to bake for me when she got to my home in Saskatchewan. I remember her doing a funny little dance while we walked in the snow by the river to cheer me up.

To all of you who loved her and were moved by her... in our grief, let's remember that the best way we can honour her is to let the ways she touched us affect who we are and how we are in the world. She is here with me, in me, whenever I make a more ethical choice, when I am kinder, when I bring laughter to a friend, when I notice and make beauty. She is here in all the love, the grief, the stories we share. Dear dear Karen.

Such sad news: I met Karen in Victoria and was really moved by her kindness. I didn't know her very well but when my husband passed away she called me and asked if she could stop by and she brought a home made cake for me.....so thoughtful and something I'll never forget.

So sorry for your loss Randy.

Dear Randy--I was floored by news of Karen's passing and am so sorry for your loss. Condolences to your families, and the many friends and artists who were touched by Karen's spirit.

Take care,

dear Randy, i am so very sorry for your loss, our loss. thank you for your exquisite tribute to Karen & for sharing photos of her incredible, beautiful, amazing life. Karen brought joy to so many, to me. i was intimidated by her whip-smart intelligence, maverick creativity, confident laidback demeanor, she welcomed me into her life. i longed to dance her wonderful, rareified work, i was a huge fan. this never happened but, one time when i was in Winnipeg, you - you two, invited me over for a visit & supper. i can't recall how i got out to your place nor, how i got back to Brent & Jaik's where i surely was staying. i remember so many things about that visit, your magical home, Benny, a salad that i can almost taste now. Karen, Karen i love you so. RIP

As we meander through life,

sometimes we are lucky to be around some exceptional people

like Karen.

What an amazing spirit !

My heart felt condolences to you Randy and all those who love

Karen.

Oh, Karen. Life is precious and especially when it moves on whether we know it or not. You carried such a spark. From the moment of meeting you and Randy, your deep, committed, partnership, your commitment and passion for dance without losing sight of the great world and it's creatures.... You may have been the first dancer I met who spent as much time looking out into the world as in the studio and somewhere in there got herself a border collie and took dance outside in a divine collaboration of movement, speed, and fun. Keeping joy in your sights. I have admired you both since that first meeting. Always in my peripheral vision - thanks, Karen, for being that artist - so clear, so grounded, so open. Randy I carry you in my heart.

Randy I don't know how many times I've read your wonderful words and watched the slideshow. It is such a beautiful tribute to a life well lived. Whether Karen was with someone very young or very old, she could make them feel like the most special person ever. I didn't know that I could cry this many tears.

She will be missed by so many.

Take care of you now Randy.

Love you.

Mom and Dad

Randy I don't know how many times I've read your wonderful words and watched the slideshow. It is such a beautiful tribute to a life well lived. Whether Karen was with someone very young or very old, she could make them feel like the most special person ever. I didn't know that I could cry this many tears.

She will be missed by so many.

Take care of you now Randy.

Love you.

Mom and Dad

This is a lovely and joyful tribute to Karen's life and legacy. The love and respect that Karen had for the critters of this world is something that I admired immensely, as well as her excellent sense of style.

In the early days, Karen and I shared studios and stages. Where our friendship fully blossomed was on beaches and docks, in forests and kitchens.

What an absolutely beautiful tribute! I remember a visit to your beautiful and artfully decorated home in Winnipeg and witnessing how Karen "parented" Benny and the proud story of how extensive Benny's vocabulary was as compared to then 2 year old Spencer's. Karen clearly lived life to the fullest. That you knew you were loved when in Karen's orbit is the most precious gift anyone can give another. She loved Randy with her whole being and his love for her just as encompassing. Karen was so very close to my mother and my parents loved her so much. I will be forever grateful to Karen for the love she brought to our family. Mary Oliver says it best. When someone with such a zest for life passes too soon, it's a reminder to live one's life to the fullest. Randy, I love you with all my heart. ❤️ ❤❤

What an amazing tribute for an incredible woman. Sincere condolences to her family, friends and to everyone like myself who knew her from our school days. She is gone far too soon but she certainly lived a very full life while here on earth and achieved so much to be proud of. Rest In Peace Karen

I just watched the video for the 3rd time & I’m sitting here shell shocked. Beautiful & so sad. You did a lovely job, Randy, Karen’s joie de vivre shines throughout the video and your written words.

And this is what she made (which should have appeared beneath my small recollection of a beautiful day) ...

I am sorry to hear of Karen's passing. We were friends in junior high and high school. I can't eat tomatoe soup and grilled cheese without thinking of Karen. When we were 15 we skipped chem class, borrowed her parents car and Karen drove us around for the afternoon. We got caught skipping class as we drove to school to pick up Karen's boyfriend! Karen was so much fun to be around and was so full of life. I regret losing touch with her. I recently found a book she had given me for my birthday one year, although I have moved many times I have never been able to part with the book-the subject matter, her inscription in the book have always been special to me. Rest in peace, Sal.

My deepest condolences on the passing of this beautiful soul. We met through dance years ago and immediately "clicked" due to our similar sense of humour. As life often takes us in different directions, we lost touch over the years but maintained a connection through a mutual friend. Much respect, lovely lady. You will always remain in our hearts. ❤️

I'm sorry to hear of Karen's passing. Our parents were very close friends. Our moms, along with June Harrington, were the three muskateerts and could often he founded sitting together drinking coffee. Our home was like a second home to Karen. Mom loved hearing ABOUT everything Karen was up to and was always encouraging her to follow her heart. To the family and Randy, my condolences. Keep her in your thoughts and in your mouths. Talk of her often. It's the best way to remember her. Read poetry that she wrote and that she loved.

You've had a rough couple of years but you have a village to support you.

Karen will be sadly missed, but never forgotten. When you think of her, smile.

Deepest condolences to Karen's family and friends and partner Randy. I feel very lucky to have had my massage oractice set up in the NAfro dance center during the time when TRIP rehearsed in the space. I cherished being a peripheral fly on the wall to her creative processes and she would come for massages and share some of the joys and frustrations of any given days work. I remember this smile that would come over her face when I would ask how the day had gone which told me, "that's a loaded question Tannis but I wouldn't have it any other way." May she be at peace. ❤️

A very special soul is now dancing in heaven, I’m sure that Benny was there to greet her …. tail awaggin’. My condolences to Randy and all of her family.

Karen I will never forget you. You were caring, compassionate, discerning, thoughtful, spirited, confident, calm, supportive, particular, dedicated,ambitious, focused, wise, strong, loyal and so much more. Thank you and bless you xoxo

What an amazing chronicle of a life well lived.

Sorry sorry to hear of Karen's passing, my condolences to the Kuzak family and her partner Randy

What a beautiful tribute for my beautiful friend Karen. She was my very best friend in Grade 6 and she became part of my daily thoughts over the last year. I loved our visits, always eating cake and laughing. My heart has a hole in it that will always be there until we meet again. RIP Karen. I loved you so much. Thank you Randy for loving her and sharing this beautiful tribute to her. Thinking golf you, her sisters and all who loved her. Which was everyone who knew her.

Rest in Peace Karen. You'll be remembered for your beautiful heart.

Thank you Karen for all your compassion and love!

I will never forget you...

I love you cousin ❤️

I miss you...

That day Karen came to Willow Island and we sat in the sand talking as she played with some rocks and I looked up and she had made this and I'm not even certain she knew she had made it..

Wow, beautifully done. Karen was such a fun person to spend time with, myself and my wife travelled to Regina for a trip dance show, was magical, my little brother danced in it, I remember very fondly shopping Thrift and antique stores with Karen, she had the funnest personality and kept us laughing all day, what a bright star she will be in heaven, her love for my brother was so obvious, as his was for her, Benny their dog was a way more than a dog to them, he was such a loved member of that family, the walks to get him ice cream, the absolute love for life they all enjoyed together was things dreams are made of, we are so blessed to have known the kind spirit that is Karen, I know she was so very close to my mother and father, Karen will always be loved by our entire family. Miss you huge young lady. I hope peace is upon you, you deserve nothing but the best ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Wow, what an amazing tribute Randy, I had a few tears in my eyes as I read this. Karen will be forever in our memories and will be sorely missed. She was a very talented girl and her memory will live through all the performing art she left behind.