JAMES McCRORIE

ONE OF THE BEST MEN I'VE MET.
A TRULY DECENT HUMAN BEING.
I MISS HIM IN MY LIFE.

Dear Elaine and family. I was about to send a book to Jim and somehow I arrived here. It is hard to believe Jim has gone. Words are not enough to express my love of him and his ways. I too feel his passing with great sorrow.

My sincere condolences to Elaine and the family.

My memories of Jim date back to early childhood when he and my Dad (Bill Hope) became colleagues at the Center for Community Studies at the U of S in the early '60s. They were to become life-long friends. I remember the common cause and the intellectual discussions, which usually gave way to celebration and laughter. His interest in people, their stories and lives, along with his strong sense of community and justice have left a lasting mark on those he touched. This is a legacy to be proud of. It will not end with Jim's passing.
My condolences and best wishes to Elaine and family.

Jim was a role model to the many nephews and nieces in our family. We loved his stories and the time he took to spend with each of us. He made us all feel so special. When talking with him we truly felt that our thoughts and opinions were important. As one of our ‘elders' his experiences and knowledge will be sorely missed but we are comforted by the thought that many of his ideas, life experiences, and fun stories have been passed on. We'd like to send our best wishes to Elaine and family and look forward to seeing them soon.

Jim was great fun having next door to the Archives in CPRC. I will always remember his practical jokes and funny notes. He was always guaranteed to bring a smile to one's face. But I will also remember his love of social justice and his work with the Mac-Paps. He made the world a better place. My sympathies to the family.

Both Maggie Siggins and I remember fondly a wonderful trip that Jim McCrorie organized from The Pas to Churchill, Manitoba. On that voyage by overnight train were eminent worthies including the then new President of the University of Regina, Don Wells and his new wife, Deborah, Professor Barry Barlow and his partner, Mary Love. Jim cheered us on as we passed from taiga to tundra and finally arrived at the magnificent Hudson's Bay. Jim was a wonderful, informative leader on that memorable occasion. He was always a strong advocate of the Hudson's Bay Route Association, supporting an increase in the direct shipping between Churchill and Europe. I know Jim would be happy knowing that this dream is now reality. Bon Voyage, Jim. You will be missed. Gerry Sperling

I greatly admired him as a colleague. My deepest condolences.

G. Papini
Physics Emeritus
U. of R.

My deepest sympathy, Elaine and family. Thinking of you at this time.

I met Jim at a National Farmers Union seminar. As one of my mentors, Jim played a role in influencing my social and plitical views.

I first met Jim and Elaine about 20 years ago, on Hecla Island, Lake Winnipeg. I was there with the "Moroccos," a fraternal golfing organization comprised of old friends from across Canada. Elaine became a dedicated participant in Morocco Golf Week thereafter. Jim, meanwhile, as perhaps the only non-golfing Scot on the planet, was content to sit out the golf, but took great pleasure in partaking of the ancillary social activities. The Moroccos, to a person, were captivated by his wit and warmth. We will miss him greatly, particularly when MGW rolls into Regina for the 2014 renewal. Our sincere condolences to Elaine and the family.

I met Jim when we were both active in the Waffle group in the NDP and many years later, worked closely with him and the excellent CPRC team when I edited Prairie Forum. I could not have asked for a more supportive press director. He was a great storyteller, as many have pointed out. He was also super-knowledgeable about the history of farmers' struggles, Marxist theory, and so much more. Gone too early! But he leaves an indelible mark.

Dear Elaine and family:
I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. I appreciated the opportunity to work with him while he was Executive Director at CPRC for 10 years. He was a very kind man and was always concerned about his staff at CPRC. It was a pleasure to go to work each day knowing that in addition to hard work, one could look forward to sharing a laugh or joke – not only on the “Milestone Maiden” (which he nicknamed me since I grew up in Milestone) but also at his own expense. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Lorraine & Ried Nelson

Having worked at the U of R I had the pleasure of meeting with Jim on numerous occasions. He had that infectious smile and a way of speaking with you that made you feel like you were the most interesting person in the room. A wonderful man. My sincerest condolences.

I wondered if this was the same James I knew so many years ago in Montreal. Then I read an entry in the Guest Book re Musset Ave. So long ago, but I fondly remember James as a very kind young man. My sincerest condolences to his family.

Jim dominates our fondest of memories and he has shaped so very much of who we have become and what we want for ourselves, our community, our region and our nation, throughout our lives. A kind, caring, compassionate and gentle soul whose dance on the earth was nothing short of incredible. Thank you so much for the honour and pleasure of knowing you and, Elaine, children and grandchildren, please know that our hearts and thoughts are with you always.

Tom Marwick, Jennifer Turner, Nanaimo

Deepest condolences to Elaine and the McCorie family. I will fondly remember encounters with Jim at Hecla Island, Manitoba and Regina where the conversations were always interesting and where Jim lent his anchored levity to the occasions.

To those of us who grew up on Musset Ave in Montreal and played street hockey, football, baseball, built shacks and explored the woods and back yards in the neighbourhood Jim was more better known as Jamie. I remember well that smile. My condolences to all his family and friends.

James MCrorie

For many years now Heather and I have enjoyed meeting with Jim and Elaine in the summer; we have enjoyed Jim's anecdotes and appreciated his keen political observations. We are grateful that in “retirement” Jim continued to be socially and politically active, to write, and to give support to others engaged in progressive causes.

Jim was a “peoples' sociologist” with an acute interest in the role people have in the making of history. Jim in turn was highly regarded by many outstanding Canadians; not least among them the Canadians who defended democracy and fought fascism in Spain. Not only did Jim have a leading role in the establishment of a Spanish Civil War Memorial in Ottawa he gave a huge helping hand to the publication of Canadian Volunteers: Spain, 1936-1939, the story of the veterans of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, by William Beeching and published by the Canadian Plains Research Center in 1989. The physical monuments that have been constructed together with Canadian Volunteers are bringing closer the day when the Mac-Paps will receive their place in Canadian history.

While Jim had his doctorate in sociology he still enjoyed comparing notes on problems of the day with non-academic thinkers; his Kazakhstan Diary: Impressions of a post-Soviet republic (1992) is a great example of very interesting discussions Jim had while riding the train across Russia from Siberia to Moscow.

Jim was a biographer of interesting characters; he himself was an interesting character. I must soon get a copy of Jim's “Memoirs…” Jim lived up to the University of Regina's motto:“One Who Serves”.

Ed Lehman, Cupar, Sk.

So sorry for your loss, Elaine and family. Jim was a good man and an engaging scholar. We remember him with a certain Moroccos fondness, too.

Dear Elaine and family - please accept my condolences on Jim's passing. I worked with him for 10 years, and remember that time with the deepest respect and affection. Jim was a wonderfully kind man, unfailingly fair to his employees, and always concerned with their welfare. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know him - to work for and with him - and on more than one occasion to share a joke or a lark with him - often at the expense of the ever patient "Milestone Maiden." I will miss him.

What a remarkable man. He achieved more than twenty people could have....rest gently.