It was all about fond memories.

Humorous stories and inspirational words were shared, people laughed and they cried, but most importantly they remembered.

About 1,500 , friends and family members came to the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre on Monday afternoon to help the life of Mark Taylor, the city鈥檚 general manager of parks, recreation and culture who died tragically last month in a .

The crowd included a huge mix 鈥� from former mayors and political candidates to friends, boy scouts and members of the general public.

Mark Taylor touched a lot of lives.

Tom MacDonald, a close friend of the Taylor family, was master of ceremonies.

He addressed the crowd and thanked them all for coming.

鈥淲hen I see this wonderful turnout this afternoon, it makes me think that Mark would say, 鈥楧id you charge for tickets and did you sell beer?鈥� I believe he probably would have wanted that to happen,鈥� joked MacDonald.

Fire Chief Don Beer and former city manager Frank Pizzuto also spoke at the event.

鈥淚nspirational comes to mind, when I think of Mark,鈥� said Beer.

He said Taylor was always there to offer support and some inspirational words.

鈥淭hey come in the fashion of 鈥楯ust do it鈥� or 鈥楢nything is possible; you just have to believe in yourself.鈥欌��

Pizzuto brought  a bottle of wine, poured several glasses, called some of Taylor鈥檚 friends up to the stage and toasted him. He encouraged the entire audience to yell out cheers.

More accolades followed both about Taylor's private and professional life.

Taylor鈥檚 brother Jim said Mark 鈥渃ared about people鈥� and it showed in the number of people who came out to the event.

Jim said the family has appreciated all the letters and words of support that have come in since the tragedy.

Taylor鈥檚 love of the outdoors was a major theme of the day.

鈥淗e was like the Johnny Appleseed of hiking,鈥� said Taylor鈥檚 brother Steve.

鈥淚 can honestly say that after every one of our outings 鈥� I鈥檇 have nothing but great memories of that day. I鈥檇 just needed Mark to push me along.鈥�

Mark鈥檚 son Kyle said his dad always told him to control his emotions.

鈥淚 feel this is as good a time as any to practise this.鈥�

He called his father an 鈥渁mazing dad鈥� and an 鈥渋ncredible role model鈥� who shared his love of the outdoors with his children.

Kyle said his father was never afraid to try something new and always set goals to achieve. He also taught him life skills.

鈥淟ike forgiveness, having compassion for others and, above all, being graceful even if the situation calls for being anything but,鈥� said Kyle.

鈥淢y dad died doing what he loved, with who he loved in the environment he was most comfortable with. He was always in his element, when he was against the elements. This is where he was happiest.鈥�

The final speaker was Taylor鈥檚 daughter Lindsay, who told the crowd one of her dad鈥檚 common catch phrases to her was 鈥淕o big, girl.鈥�

She told the emotional story of a Christmas present she received from her dad in 2008. It was a journal for her to write her goals into and to comment on them on a weekly basis. In it was a letter explaining how to succeed in life and offering advice on how to live.

鈥淚 hope you enjoy your journal and I know you will enjoy your life. You鈥檙e a Taylor,鈥� it concluded.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine a life without my dad and my best friend. But if I live by these words I hope that I won鈥檛 have to,鈥� she said.

The event ended with a slide show of photos from Mark鈥檚 life, set to music, playing on the arena鈥檚 video screen overhead.