Jim was one of my mentors during our tenure at the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE). His leadership and contributions to Canada are unparalleled, and we have lost one of our 'heroes' for the environment. He never hesitated to speak truth to power. Some people when they are on Earth occupy only the space of a tree, but when they leave, they leave the space of a forest.
I'm happy and grateful to have met and gotten to know and learn from Jim over the past 20 years. He was always so much fun to be with, full of stories, infectious laughter, and incisive thinking. Jim could smell pomposity and BS from a mile away, and could cut through the crap as fast as anyone I know. I deeply appreciated his true commitment to environmental and social justice. Very proud to have been able to call him my friend.
I just saw the beautiful photo gallery of Uncle Jim's life. It was spectacular. I was always awestruck when Uncle Jim came to visit. He seemed larger than life to me. He was such a great man and was always interested in everyone around him. I have so many fond memories that still make me laugh when I think about them. I am glad his eyebrows were mentioned because they truly had a life of their own. I always wished that we could have visited more often. I will miss him.
Will miss your occasional letters and Christmas cards.
Just an High School friend that wandered off to the USA.
Evelyn Hale Charlston Centralia WA. USA
I feel so lucky to have known Jim even if it was for little more than year. I met him while writing an illustrated history of Habitat '76, the groundbreaking UN conference that he was so instrumental in organizing. Jim was a brilliant interviewee (he spoke in publishable paragraphs), remarkably generous with his help, and a patient explainer and re-explainer of anything I asked him. As others have said above, he didn't mince words and I found that directness a relief in a sea of caution and bafflegab. I am so sad to have lost him, especially before he had a chance to read the book he helped me with, but I am really happy that whole sections of the book are in Jim's words. Condolences to Jim's family. What a loss.