Jim grew up in Saskatoon, SK. He joined Air Cadets in high school, obtained his glider’s license, and maintained an avid interest in planes throughout his life; arriving at Royal Roads as a young recruit was a natural next step.
After transferring to RMC for Engineering Physics, Jim completed his military training and served as a naval officer in Victoria and Halifax with ships HMCS Nipigon, Preserver, and Miramichi. His last posts were as Combat Officer in HMCS Athabaskan and as Maritime Strategy at NDHQ. Jim was proud to be a member of the class of ’78; he had very fond memories and a host of stories to tell of his time at military college and in the navy.
Jim retired from the RCN in January 1990 to serve with the Navigators of Canada (an international faith-based organization) in Kingston, ON as a lay chaplain at Queens University, and in London, ON as VP Field Services. During his first few years with the Navigators of Canada, Jim also served as a reservist, and commanded naval vessels on several occasions. Jim completed his Executive MBA at the Ivey School of Business in 1999 and spent almost-seven years in the private sector as Corporate Projects Manager for a London, ON-based company.
Jim’s career culminated in a meaningful thirteen-year tenure with Compassion Canada- a not-for-profit organization- as Director of Operations initially, and then as VP Strategy and Marketing. His strengths were in strategic planning and execution, human resources, and team building. Jim is remembered for his leadership, the constructive and positive ways in which he shaped the culture of the organization, his sense of humor, and his integrity.
Jim met “the love of his life”, as he would say, in 1984 and married in 1985. Together, he and Heather raised four interesting and wonderful children who taught them much and enriched their lives: Maria, Helena (Jay), Steve (RMC Class of 2014), and Mark. Jim was a very proud dad. He was committed to his family and to God, orienting his life around both. Jim enjoyed running, singing, hiking, and laughing at his own puns. Everyone who knew Jim appreciated his depth and breadth of knowledge, his kindness, rich harmonies, inclusive and thoughtful manner, and his sense of humor. J
Jim crossed his “finish line” Wednesday, April 22, 2020 in his London, ON home at the age of sixty-two. He was sad to think of leaving his family and friends as early as he did, and he took comfort with the thought of being part of the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ cheering them on in life. Jim lived his three-and-a-half years of terminal cancer with honesty and courage; the College’s motto “Truth, Duty, Valour” epitomized Jim’s personal life, his professional career, and his death. He is lovingly remembered and sorely missed. Jim lives on in all those whose lives he touched.
