The Canadian outdoors community lost a great friend and advocate on August 5, when Jim Lawrence succumbed to a heart attack. He was 69. An avid outdoorsman, Jim found his wilderness roots early and was involved in hunting and fishing since childhood. He shared his love of the outdoors with his children, and eventually his grandchildren. Over the course of his lifetime, Jim was a Game Warden for the province of Quebec, served as president of the Brome County Fish & Game Club in Quebec’s Eastern Township from 1979 to 1984, ran a pheasant hunting preserve, was involved with the Quinte Wild Turkey Association, and was deeply committed to the Canadian Outdoor Heritage Alliance.

“Jim believed that science and biology should influence wildlife management practices, not uninformed public opinion. He had no time for those who thought otherwise and was not afraid to say so,” said Bob McQuay, COHA’s chairman. “He embraced his role as editor, writer, researcher, and solicitor of articles for Field News and his committment to COHA was even more evident through his efforts to prepare press releases, meetings and a multitude of day-to-day activities. We were a good team and I shall miss him.”

Bill Bennett, BC’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, and lead proponent of BC’s Outdoor Heritage Act remarked, "In today's Canada, with cities getting larger, and small towns getting smaller it is important to have people who are committed to maintaining our rural outdoor heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping. Jim Lawrence was one of those people and all his friends across Canada will miss him."

“Jim’s common sense and rational approach to issues involving hunting, fishing, trapping, and the environment could always be relied upon and I sought his advice and counsel when such matters came before Parliament. His dedication to our natural outdoors heritage and activites were an inspiration to all who knew him, and I will miss him,” commented Garry Breitkreuz, chair of the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus and MP for Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan. “May God keep his loved ones in this time of sadness.”

Jerry Ouellette, an Ontario MPP and supporter of outdoor activities said “Jim was a dedicated, hard working individual whose contributions to the outdoors will never be forgotten. He will be deeply missed.”

Jim’s first passion was his family. He leaves his wife Eve, their children Catherine, Geoffrey, and Andrew and their six grandchildren – Jessica, Jackson, Justin, Nathaniel, James, and Ethan. He would wish to be remembered as a dedicated family man and outdoor enthusiast who cared passionately about preserving that way of life.

“My Dad was completely dedicated to COHA and would have wanted any donations or memorials in his name to be sent there or to the Canadian Diabetes Foundation” notes son Geoff.