James Norquay

It's 2025 an April morning and a long ago now fading memory of meeting James Norquay suddenly popped into my head and it's a good one I'm glad to have.

Was around 1994-95 I Had a terrible migraine headache travelling aboard the faerie from Tsawwassen to Vancouver Island.

The ship was packed, allot of noisy people aboard then suddenly James sat next to me. I had my head in my hands, eyes closed fingers massaging my temples, not paying any attention to him or anything else. Then I heard James ask me "are you ok young fella?"

I told him "I have a migraine and it's killing me" He said 'that's terrible, sorry to hear" After a moment or two he quietly told me he was herbalist and has mixtures that would cure my headache.

That's when I turned towards James and got my real first look at him. Was an immediate good vibe and comfortable with his presence which was welcomed because I was in pain and grouchy.

As I looked at James to me at age 35 ish he was an elderly gentleman, very calm mature, well composed in demeanor with eyes that sparkled intelligence, having styled longish greying hair that suited him well.

As this memory fades I still recall how bright the sun beams where that bounced around in the area we sat illuminating us. Also noticed James had a very interesting beautifully wood carved walking stick that had some adornments. Something a journeying wanderer seeking wisdom would have.

His garments reminded me of a classic but modern wise 'medicine man' that only an elderly man that had wisdom and knowledge could wear and look respected established and he did. He appeared to me as a good man who was in his prime.

At this point my headache was almost making me delirious with grimacing pain so I said to James okay sure I'll try your "herbal medicine"!

With squinting eyes I watched him retrieve from a clean well organized and maintained black box a small vial of his most assured herbal cure. At this point I was desperately ready take anything the pain was unbearable.

Then James looked me in the eye speaking assuredly with confidence in a quiet calming voice that I still remember word for word "Here's a few drops, sit back relax and talk to me in ten, fifteen minute's"

Sure enough within ten minutes I sat up straight rotated my shoulders turned looked at James with an excited voice saying "what did you just give me!?" He quietly chortled and said " it works doesn't it?" I nodded yes with near disbelief while thanking him repeatedly and James just graciously nodded giving a warm smile.

Over the remaining voyage James was engaging to listen, introducing me to the Norquay Script so eloquently explaining telling me all about his amazing language communication concept he developed! He was great! Was he from another advanced planet? I don't know lol. I do know he knew his stuff.

I was blown away! My perception of James was almost becoming surreal. Here is this wise elderly gentleman stranger who in his kindness has cures for others pain and a mind filled with higher ideas to help and benefit human kind to go forward.

He gave me the fold out Norquay Script pamphlet that he personally signed as we exchanged ideas and the possibilities of the future that embraced his ideas and concept, in such short fleeting moment in time James was very enlightening and influential to me.

I held onto to the pamphlet he gave me for many years and I always spoke kindly and well of James to others because was real pleasure to have met James who I consider to this day a very unique un common type of good man that are very few and far in between.

I know it's long time ago and it's been awhile now since Mr Norquay's passed on but Who ever reads this I have to tell you on that one warm breezy summer afternoon mid 1990's sailing across the sparkling waves of the Straight of Georgia talking to this out of the blue wonderful rare kind stranger who was James Norquay that I briefly knew on that day he was as luminous as the bright sun in the sky.

This is my memory of James.
Thank you for letting me share

My condolences, truly

Lance Sabo

To me James was a good mentor and a great friend. I met him by chance during a hard time and I have a great amount of love and respect towards him for the great advice and wisdom he once shared with me.

Lll the best James, and rest in peace.

Where does one begin? I think I will always remember dear James sitting at his kitchen table in Victoria, painstakingly placing each dot along some of his exquisite knotwork of what was to become later, the Sadratu'l-Muntahá or Sidra Star. (Probably his most well known calligraphic Baha'i art work)
I bless the foresight of my husband who purchased one of James prints of it! Dog eared a bit at the corners, it is framed and we cherish it.
When we were on Pilgrimage, imagine our joy at finding out that he did the calligraphy for the Tablet of Visitation at the request of Ruhiyyih Khanum and which hangs in the Shrine of the Bab.
Journey Well, Journey True, dear James, the 'oldest Baha'i Youth' (I believe Ruhiyyih Khanum gave you that nickname) Love from us

I recall sharing a house in Vancouver with James, Ian McLean and one or two other (at the time) young Baha'is. The year was 1979 and the house number was 1919 west 19th Avenue! It was an illumined chapter in all our lives.

Rest in peace, James. We love you!

When I was in Victoria in 1976 at a Bahá'í conference, I met James, at that time his name was Jim Willoughby. I reconnected with James in 1982 when I moved to Victoria and over years we continue our friendship. James was a remarkable artist with his native art or calligraphy. He created his own international script that was called, "Norquay's Script. He once had a dream about the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh where he visualized architect of the building. Later, he made a miniature version of Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh. For his love for Bahá'u'lláh, he was a fearless and faithful teacher of the Bahá'í Faith and one of the best Bahá'í teachers I have known. I once asked him why he brought three persons a year into the Bahá'í Faith. Where `Abdu'l-Bahá asks us to bring one soul a year into the Baha'i Faith. His answered was that he brings two more into the Bahá'í Faith for those who do not teach. That was a good answer. There are many other things about James that I will miss and will remember. God blesses you, James, on your spiritual journey.

I first met Tibachimu in the summer of 1972 in Nanaimo, BC, as he was on his way to seeing his natural mother for the first time in about 42 years. There he was, the dominant figure in the living room of the house where I and three other Baha'i youths were batching. He was playing an autoharp and singing spiritual and bawdy songs. I loved him immediately. His candor, honesty, and certitude were both inspiring and refreshing. And his sense of humour clicked with mine. He taught the Faith with conviction and without compromise. Eccentric as he was, he was genuine through and through. I will miss his company in this world and look forward to being with him in the next.

Dear James and I spent many happy times together when he first went to live in Penticton and after I moved to Surrey.

May God make His Light to shine upon thee.

I remember James with fond memories and am offering prayers during this new step on his wonderful journey.
His calligraphy,especially his early works done in the seventies, stands out most in my mind. They were masterpieces in beauty and accuracy and from a Graphic Art perspective; it is remarkable that James achieved such quality all by hand. I also remember his humor and caring whenever he attended events. This was a figure as colorful and full of life as his beautiful art work.

I remember James as a grand story teller, always with a good joke and a warm welcome. He was instrumental in my decision to become a Baha'i in 1990. The physical realm will be a lonlier place without him but I'm certain he is having a blast (trumpets and otherwise) in the spiritual world. If ever there was a bird who burst its cage asunder in its joy to reach its Beloved it would be James. Thank you James for everything. You were the best Baha'i teacher and teacher I ever met and a true friend.

I knew James from the time I was 11 or 12 years old. He assisted my mother, Audrey Westheuser at the National Baha'i Office which was situated on Lola Rd in Toronto at that time. (That would be in the 50's) James and I remained in touch through the years and in many ways he was a dear brother to me. He so loved the Baha'i Faith and was a steadfast servant and fearless teacher. He also had a personal love of the Native spirituality. Some years ago, James carved me a personal Pipe and was in the process of completing the stem for another pipe bowl which he had given me : that of an Eagle. James was an 'Eagle' to me, and we supported each other through our tests and challenges. He told me that he went out on his balcony every night around midnight and say 95 Removers of Difficulties for me . Amazing. I loved him dearly and consider him a true brother.
I shall dearly miss him. I had no idea until today November 6th that he had even passed away !

Dearest James
Always remembered lovingly for your thoughtful ways. Especially the beautiful prayer beads you made for me and my grandson Ryan.
Remembering as well the wonderful times at Baha'i summer school, with your wonderful stories and sharing your beautiful caligraphy art.
Warmest Baha'i love
Dolores

When I was a child, James used to be over at our house quite alot. I remember one morning (this would be in the '70's, in the days when everyone still smoked) to find the living room floor simply covered with tiny cigarette papers folded into little butterflies. Apparently James had started tossing them at the cat, who went quite mad, and he had been howling with laughter and throwing more and more of these around for the dancing, leaping cat.
In more recent years. he had invited me to meet him in Sydney to talk more in depth about linguistics, and to argue about the pros and cons of his Norquay script for the English language! Sydney seemed so far away and now I am sorry I didn't find the time to do so!
I am sure he will be inspiring art and laughter from the next world.

...and I won't be forgetting an occasion at least 20 years ago when James called together a small audience for a summer evening recital (I think in Craigdarroch Castle) where he sang "On Ilkley Moor Bar Tat" and a few other less irreverent tunes with his usual flair and aplomb. He had a fine singing voice and a rich repertoire! Keep on singing, James.

I met James before he forgot who some ppl were and then I ran into him again ather I became a Baha'i and I always rember him as friend and very loving person.

At many conferences and gatherings in Vancouver or Victoria James would come up to me, after the seriousness and solemnity, asking "Did you hear the one about..." and we would have a good laugh together. I can almost hear the chuckles, and maybe roars of laughter now emanating from the Next World. Dear James - you have made it home.

We remember "Jim" Willoughby (as we first met him in the 1950's in Niagara Falls, Ontario) as a fearless teacher of the Faith. When I (Carol) first became a Baha'i in 1956 he was my first Baha'i test. I learned much! Years later I recall a long conversation with (the now) James Norquay about his joy at finding his birth name and the alphabet that he had developed as his contribution to an ever advancing civilization and the unity of the human race. An amazing man. We think you are very happy now.

The soul that hath remained faithful to the Cause of God, and stood unwaveringly firm in His Path shall, after his ascension, be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the Almighty hath created can benefit through him. Such a soul provideth, at the bidding of the Ideal King and Divine Educator, the pure leaven that leaveneth the world of being, and furnisheth the power through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest.

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 161)

Thank you, James, for being and continuing to be a channel for the Spirit.

James was a fearless teacher of the Cause. On the ferry to Vancouver, walking past the chairs in the passenger lounge James suddently left us, sat down next to a complete stranger, opened a copy of the Gleanings and placed in on the astonished man's lap saying, " Excuse me sir, but would you miond reading this passage?" The man was perplexed but obliged, to which James, in his melodious, broadcasters voice replied "Now. Wasn't that absolutley beautiful?!" I don't remeber the rest as I had probably hurried on, too embarrassed to admit having a friend who would do such an outrageous, but wonderful thing." A mighty "Hoorah!" for one of North America's most successful teachers!
Hero Vey, Tofino

Many good memories when James Norquay (then Jim Willoughby) was in Ontario. Prayers are on their way.

Dear Friends,
James was a good friend. I knew him for 40 years! I happened to open his electronic organizer the other day and he had made a memo to himself: James tombstone~ "so he passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side." Let's hope that happened. It would have been quite a welcome!
PLEASE NOTE: James Memorial Date has been changed to Nov 16, 2pm White Eagle Hall 90 Dock Street
blessings,
Gail

James seems to have always been part of our Baha'i lives. We especially remember him from the seventies in Nelson, Sidney and Victoria. Even before I met James, his Sidra Star played a role in my declaration. So many memories, so many stories, such beautiful calligraphy and illumination. James was unique and irreplaceable - the "oldest Baha'i youth in Canada", forever young.

Marshall & Valerie

Good on you Jim......I'm envious....