Jim passed away at Cowichan Hospice, Duncan, BC, the morning of May 17th. He left us the way he lived his life, with quiet dignity and humility.
Jim is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Jeanette (Todd), son John, five grandchildren William, Thomas, Abigail, Sarah, and Peter, sisters Helen Porter, and Anne Mudge, brother-in-law Rodger Hunter (Alison) and four nieces and nephews.
He was the first-born child of John and Ruth Dryden and was raised on Maple Shade Farm in Brooklin, Ontario. After graduating from Whitby High School, he spent one year teaching grades 1-8 in a Southern Ontario one-room schoolhouse. He would always smile and say he was the teacher, cleaner, and indoor and outdoor maintenance guy.
Following his teaching year, he entered medical school at the University of Toronto and graduated in 1967. After graduation, he and his wife Linda packed their worldly possessions into a converted snowmobile trailer and camped their way out to Victoria, Vancouver Island, where Jim had been accepted as an intern at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
On completion of his internship, he went into medical practice with Dr. George Rasmussen who became a lifelong friend and colleague. Eventually Jim relocated to View Royal where he was joined by Dr. Murray Stanwood and the two physicians practiced together until Jim’s retirement from general practice in 2008. Jim and Murray also became lifelong friends. Jim was an old-fashioned GP who did house calls, delivered babies, did daily hospital rounds, emergency visits and served on volunteer hospital committees. He truly loved the practice of medicine and caring for his patients.
Jim was an excellent athlete who enjoyed football, lacrosse, squash, cycling, and sailing. Many wonderful family vacations took place on the water. He was also an accomplished woodworker who especially enjoyed doing lathe work. Family members and friends have lovely commemorative pieces created by Jim. Everything he undertook, he did well.
The family would like to thank Dr. Frank Egan and Wilma, the Cowichan home care nurses, the palliative team and the exceptional Cowichan Hospice staff for the compassionate care they provided for Jim.
A Celebration of Jim’s life will take place in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, on Saturday June 27th, 2026, at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations to the charity of your choice.
Condolences and memories may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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