Personality: Friendly and outgoing, but not quick
to trust people fully. His main motto is no trust
means no mistrust, m eaning that if he doesn't
really know someone he's not going to give them a
chance to stab him in the back. This doesn't make
him cold or uncaring though. He was thought by
all who knew him to be one of the most caring and
friendly individuals they knew. He just doesn't
take everything at face value. He loves animals
or most sorts, but particularly dogs and cats. He
is strong willed and can be very stubborn when he
believes he is in the right. As well, since he
comes from a large family he has a strong sense of
loyalty especially to family and his few truly
close friends. He is quite good at controlling
his temper, but when he is pushed too far he can
be quite dangerous. Luckily, his tolerance is
quite good, and he is VERY good at turning the
other cheek, most of the time.
Physical looks: In the small town of Port aux Basques, he has always sort of stood out. But then being 6'4" in a town where the usual height for a guy is around 5'9" would do that to a person. As well, his auburn-red hair is also sort of an odd feature, expecially since he wears it at shoulder length and usually pulls it back in a pony tail when working with his tools. He is fairly strong and well built due in part to the amount of time he spends at the gym and also to the fact that he works with heavy wood and tools. His eyes are a striking emerald green, and add to his noticiability.
He is of slightly dark complexion (betraying a very slight line of Native heritage) and usually prefers to wear dark colours. He is quick to smile, and to offer help to others. His smile is wide and bright and very endearing.
Background: Born and raised in Port aux Basques, by a middle class family, he led a fairly happy childhood. He was a quick study in nearly all things he did and progressed through school with little difficulty, attaining honours grades for the most part. He was accepted to and studied at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He was a year away from an degree in engineering, when his father's health failed. With his father unable to work, Cortand didn't have the money to complete his degree.
He came home to Port aux Basques at the age of 19, and studied at the local Vocational School to become a carpenter and electrician. It took only two years to complete that program of study and he went to work with his Uncle, his father's brother, who who was a local contractor. He made enough money to look after his mother and sick father, and found that he enjoyed being able to work with his hand. He was saving what ever money he could, to maybe finish his degree one day.
These small savings were decimated upon the death of his father. Cortland used what money he had to pay for the funeral. He kept working with his uncle, and lived with his mother, helping her to come to terms with his fathers death. This was just a short six months before Cortland saw the angel telling him to make his way to Vancouver. Just a short time, before the world went to hell in a hand basket.
Having been raised a Catholic boy, Cortland was deeply religious, and his vision of the angel was something that he believed in strongly. He began to make his way to Vancouver, knowing that if he is to continue with his life in this dark time, he must start by reaching the goal that the angel set for him.