James Sydney Clark FLEMING

1939 - 2023

HON. JAMES SYDNEY CLARK FLEMING P.C., B.A. October 30, 1939 - February 15, 2023 Born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, Jim was a member of Eastwood Collegiate's first graduating class; he went on to attend University of Toronto, leading the university Liberals to their first ever victory in his final attending year. Jim graduated with a B.A. in Political Science in 1961. After university, Jim began a successful career in journalism as a news reporter for several Toronto radio stations, eventually co-anchoring CHFI morning news. During the late '60s, Jim anchored the first-in-Canada morning network public affairs show, CTV's "Bright and Early", hosting many TV specials including one with the Beatles' John Lennon, during Lennon and Yoko Ono's Give Peace A Chance Canadian Tour. It was at this time Jim was elected by his news peers as the first broadcaster President of the Toronto City Hall "Press Gallery". By the end of the '60s, Jim decided to leave his very successful news career for a career in public service. Jim became one of the few Liberal victories in the greater Toronto area in the 1972 federal election. Jim settled in for what became four successful federal elections, 1972, '74, '79, and '80. During the early years, his peers elected him for several terms as chair of the Toronto federal Liberal caucus and then as chair of the Ontario federal Liberal Caucus. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed him first as Parliamentary Secretary to Communications Minister Jeanne Sauve and then to Environment and Fisheries Minister Romeo Leblanc. After Pierre Trudeau's successful reelection to government in 1980, Jim was appointed to cabinet. He became the Minister of State responsible for Multiculturalism and was also appointed a member of the Cabinet's executive, the Priorities and Planning Committee and as Chair of the cabinet's recently created Cabinet Communications Committee. Additionally, appointed vice chair of the Social Development Committee, for many months Jim chaired that committee while Social Development Minister Jean Chretien focused on building provincial government support for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's goal to patriate our constitution from Westminster and establish a Canadian Charter of Rights. It was also Jim's role to ensure Canada's multicultural reality was included and defended in the proposed Charter of Rights. Some of Jim's proudest initiatives were winning cabinet approval for a special parliamentary Committee on Race Relations, Multiculturalism Canada's sponsoring of a national Conference on Race Relations and the Law, and providing government support for a national conference on the challenges faced by immigrant women. In 1983 after a cabinet shuffle, Jim was offered an appointment to the Senate which he declined. He resigned shortly before the 1984 election and returned to private life. First working in government affairs, then a return to public affairs radio and writing a newspaper column for the Sun Newspapers. Finally in retirement, Jim converted his love for Canadian diversity and the collecting over many years of early Canadian folk art and furnishings, into participating with his wife, Ilona, in major Canadian and American antique shows. For his public service, Jim was awarded The Queen's 25th Anniversary Medal, Golden Anniversary Medal, Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Governor General's Commemorative Medal for the one hundred and twenty-fifth Anniversary of Canada. Jim is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Ilona and their three loving children, Alexander, Skye (Michael Tomlinson and his boys, Alex, Ross and Logan), and John and his wife, Anna (Lewczanin). Jim is survived as well by his beloved grandchildren, Samson, Mila, Ollie and Finn. Jim was predeceased by his brother, John and survived by his brother, Robert. In keeping with Jim's wishes, private cremation has taken place. Arrangements entrusted to the Henry Walser Funeral Home, Kitchener 519-749-8467.