James Walker

36 Responses

1. Over the nearly 30 years that I have known Jim, he always had time to chat, offer a thoughtful opinion on the events of the day and of course to discuss his museum collection of firearms and artifacts of the old west. Jim will be missed.

2. I am shocked. I just found out. When I applied to move from Cranbrook as an auxiliary employee to Prince George to work for Dave King, Jim recommended I do it. Jim was a good friend, a wonderful head of Habitat, a great ADM, gentle, honest, caring person for the 25 years I worked in Habitat. Whenever I was in Victoria, Jim insisted that I go have a beer with him, so he could get the “low-down” of what was happening out in the region. He was well respected by all who worked with him.

3. As a Habitat Protection district biologist, I didn’t know Jim as well as others, but he was a key leader of the core group at HQ that built tools, fought good fights and inspired many of us to continue to try to make a difference for the conservation of species and ecosystems of BC. A true mentor!

4. It was certainly an honor and privilege to know and work for Jim Walker. I think everyone in the BC Wildlife Branch was proud to have such a great and dedicated leader – and one you could just walk up to and have a chat.
   It was good to see Jim from time to time in Christie’s Pub and have a beer. My daughter and I liked to go for supper there and see Jim and say hello. On more than one occasion the waitress would say – your bill has been paid – that was J W for sure.
   And what a great legacy he left for wildlife and land in BC, future generations should know about Jim Walker.

5. I will always remember the enjoyable few years working with Jim in the Counting House and Dogwood building for the Habitat protection section in 1974 to 77, before I moved on.
   Jim had such a dry sense of humour. I remember him trying to quit smoking with an oversize child’s soother hanging in his office, the “take no prisoners” necktie with red dye on it for going to meetings, his blue VW van that he used to pull his small tin boat on his many fishing trips. His wit was evident in the satirical play he wrote and directed based on “A Christmas Carol” and somehow cajoled us all into taking a role in performing it. Jennifer would often see him in the Carriage House on Thursday nights and he was always so cheery and greeted her warmly. He has left us all with many happy memories of a great friend and boss at an important but fun time in our working careers

6. Don’t forget who got Ogopogo protected under the Wildlife Act (I am not making that up), or who told Troy Hurtubise (of the Grizzly Suits Fame) that as a condition under his permit to harass Grizzly bears at the Elkford Dump that he had to come equipped with his own body bag……He also taught us that in habitat negotiations, to “Boys, always ask for more that what you want to get what you need”. In other words, the “other guys” never start a negotiation in the middle, at the compromise, so why should we? And, okay, some of that stuff in the collection could perhaps belong in a museum or be re-repatriated, but never mind. Jim was one of a kind, and I think many of us were very lucky to have him as a mentor, a boss, a friend, and conservation guide.

7. Jim was a fine gentleman and a principled professional. Regardless of our challenges, he addressed them with determination and always an extraordinary sense of humour. In our retirement years, he has been a source of fascinating history yarns drawn from his encyclopedic memory-including of course lessons on the history of guns associated with the American “wild west”
   Our retirees luncheons will not be the same without him and I expect the waitresses at the Carriage House Pub will miss him as much as will his colleagues.
   My Sincerest Condolences

8. I was in Jim’s Habitat Protection Section in the 1970’s. He,was a supportive boss a great friend and a great source,of,knowledge and humor. I feel very fortunate to have known and worked with him.

9. Ever a gentle man…

10. Annabelle and Paul,
    Jim was like a brother. We loved him as did our 4 sons who each sat on his lap hearing stories about New Brunswick at Christmas. Jim had the sharpest intellect of anyone I have ever known. I first met Jim when we were both checking in to the Pacific Biological Station about 1966. We spent a whole day talking about Atlantic Salmon and steelhead. Jim and I soon became regular deer hunting and fishing partners. I have a great many stories about Jim that have not seen daylight. I remember vividly the first time he and I went on a deer hunting trip to the north end of Vancouver Island. We got about 50 mi. north of Nanaimo and Jim said that he needed to call his Mother. We stopped at a gas station where he went in to make the phone call. When he returned to the car, he was shaking his head, laughing and muttering about mothers. When he stopped chuckling, he said, “My Mother made me promise that I was taking “an older boy” hunting. Ever since, I have been known as the “older boy.” We returned with 4 deer, skinned out and hung them in my carport overnight. Next morning, one hind portion was chewed up by neighbourhood dogs. Jim was annoyed and immediately wrote a poem entitled “an Ode to the Dog who ate my deer.” It was a classic Jim Walker effort.
    In 1974, I had a sabbatical at the Atlantic Biological Stn. in St. Andrews, N.B. Jim was at home at the time and showed me his favourite Atlantic Salmon streams which we fished. We, our family with 4 sons, met his mother and aunt and stayed at their lovely home in Newcastle, N.B.
    With Jim gone, our world seems very impoverished. We will miss him very much.
    With deepest sympathy to you and your families.