TIMOTHY WYNNE PLUMPTRE

November 27, 1943 – January 16, 2025 Born in Washington, DC, where his father was in diplomatic service, Tim grew up largely in Ottawa, apart from a memorable two-year stint in Paris from ages eight to ten. When asked by family friends to show off his French at the midday meal, he told them he didn't speak French to people who spoke English, didn't speak English to people who spoke French, and didn't speak French at lunch! Tim was predeceased by his beloved parents, Beryl and A.F. Wynne Plumptre; and survived by his sister, Judith. He leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Barbara Laskin; and his adored children, Genny and Bora; and Bora's partner, Erin Saunders, whose collective accomplishments and tender care filled him with pride and gratitude. Family meant the world to Tim, and he cherished his nieces and nephews, especially: Caroline Wedderspoon and her children, Zach, Scarlett, India, and Sylvie; Michael and Marisa Wedderspoon and their children, Layla and Phoebe; and Sophia, daughter of longtime friend and brother-in-law, John Laskin and his wife, Crystal Witterick. Tim also revelled in the embrace of chosen family, the larger Laskin clan, and many other close friends who nourished him body and soul. Tim was a romantic, a lover of travel, fine food, and classical music. He was an accomplished outdoorsman, skilled paddler and woodworker, played both guitar and piano, and sang tenor in several choirs. A graduate of the University of Toronto, the London School of Economics, and Oxford University's Centre for Management Studies, Tim began his career as a foreign service officer, then worked as a journalist with The Globe and Mail, returning to Ottawa in the late '60s to work at the Canadian International Development Agency and as Special Assistant to a federal cabinet minister. He then began an extensive career as a management consultant within and outside of government, latterly at the international consulting firm William Mercer. Following the publication of his first book, Beyond the Bottom Line: Management in Government, Tim's desire to share Canadian expertise internationally and further explore the complexities of providing good governance in the public sector - where the principal driver is not the profit motive, but the public good - led to his founding the nonprofit Institute on Governance in 1990. He continued consulting after he left the IOG in 2007. Tim assisted dozens of NGOs and government organizations across Canada and in over 30 countries abroad. His clients covered a broad range of interests, including arts and culture, child welfare, education, health policy, human rights, Indigenous affairs, international affairs, law, sports, and the governance of professional associations. He was a Visiting Scholar at Massey College and a former Adjunct Professor at Carleton University, among other academic engagements. His second book, The Intrepid Nonprofit: Strategies for Success in Turbulent Times, appeared in 2019. As a volunteer, Tim provided fearless leadership to numerous organizations in the National Capital, including the Children's Aid Society and the Community Care Access Centre of Ottawa-Carleton, and the Hospice at Maycourt. Tim faced serious illness in the last five years of his life with incredible grace and optimism and without real complaint. He was resolutely practical: household tasks (and their delegation) were a love language he expressed to the end. Thanks to an exceptional medical team, including David Macdonald, Kevin Imrie, and Steven Glassman, Tim never stopped finding the fun in life. He died unexpectedly, hopeful about new treatments and looking forward to more dinners, more travels, and joyous occasions. We will pay tribute to him on March 9th at the National Arts Centre Salon, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations to the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation, which Tim chaired for over 15 years, or to The Ottawa Hospital (The Ottawa Blood Disease Centre) in his memory. Condolences/Tributes/Donations Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-233-1143