James ‘Jim’ William MacNeill, O.C., D.Sc., LL.D.

Environmental Pioneer, International Public Servant, author, mentor, friend, husband, father and grandfather extraordinaire, Jim MacNeill, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 5, 2016, after a brief battle with pneumonia.

Jim was born April 22nd, 1928 in Mazenod Saskatchewan to William Leslie MacNeill and Helga Ingeborg Nohlgren. He was an ecological refugee at the age of 3, escaping the dustbowl for the parklands of Sturgis. Jim courageously met numerous life-changing challenges throughout his long life. He took each roadblock and used it to propel himself to greater heights without a whiff of self-pity. Jim had an indomitable spirit. Always curious, never idle, he loved ideas, travel, theatre, debate, great food, fine wine and the company of good friends & family. His eyes twinkled, his laugh was contagious and he had the best eyebrows on the planet.

From the University of Saskatchewan Jim received Bachelor of Science degrees for both Physics and Mathematics in 1949 and a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering in 1958. In 1951 he earned a Graduate Diploma in Economics and Political Science from the University of Stockholm, Sweden.

Jim began his public service career in Saskatchewan in 1952 as a research economist for T. C. Douglas. After distinguishing himself in his home province he moved, in 1964, to Ottawa where he began 13 years of exemplary work in the Canadian civil service as one of the famous “Saskatchewan Mafia”. In 1969 Jim was appointed “Special Advisor” by Prime Minister Trudeau. Over the next two years, he developed the Government's basic position on the environment and the constitution while writing his first book, Environmental Management. In 1975 the Prime Minister asked Jim to take on the role of Canadian Commissioner General and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with responsibility for Canada's national and international preparations for the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat) held in Vancouver in May 1976.

In 1977, after a well deserved sabbatical, Jim moved to the International arena serving seven years as Director of Environment for the OECD in Paris. In 1984, Jim was named Secretary General of the World Commission on Environment and Development. He was the chief architect and principal author of the Commission's world-acclaimed report Our Common Future which established the concept of sustainable development. In the late 90’s Jim chaired the World Bank’s Independent Inspection Panel to which people adversely affected by Bank-financed projects could appeal for an investigation of their complaints over the heads of their government and Bank Management.
 
Over the years Jim served as advisor to many organizations including The Institute for Research on Public Policy, The International Development Research Center, The United Nations Development Programme, Ontario Hydro, The Volvo Foundation’s Environment Prize, and The International Institute for Sustainable Development. He played a key role in the development of The Earth Charter. Jim was the recipient of many Awards and Honourary Doctorates. His appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada was the highlight of a lifetime. Jim has left this world a far better place through his countless contributions. We have lost a giant.

Jim is survived by his wife, Phyllis (née Ferguson); his daughters, Catherine (Michael) and Robin (Jamie); and the “lights of his life”, his grandchildren, Zack (Sarah), Clark, Farley, Aiden, Will and Audrey Lynne. Jim was predeceased by his son Ward.

Special thanks to the team at the Ottawa General Hospital’s ICU for their wonderful care.

Friends are invited to Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario (866-990-9530), on Monday, April 25, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. A Celebration of Life will begin at 2 p.m. with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity that supports Jim’s mission to make our home, this earth, safer for those who are yet to come. Please raise a glass to Jim each year on Earth Day – so fittingly his birthday as well.