On February 3, 2021 Thomas (Tom) Lee of Ottawa and Victoria passed away at the age of 79. Tom was the loving husband of Terry Lee, father of Tanya Lee (John Torrey) and Tom Lee (Heidi Barlow-Lee) and grandfather of Madeline, Celia, Ava and Owen.
Tom was born to Tom and Isabella Lee in December of 1941. He spent his childhood with his mother, grandparents and sisters Sharon and Lorna-Mae on a farm near Barrie, Ontario. Tom attended Barrie Central Collegiate Institute where he met his future wife of nearly 60 years, Terry McKnight. He was a proud member of the Barrie Collegiate band, which he credited with keeping him in school and fostering a lifelong love of music.
Tom was a proud Canadian and had a distinguished career in public service. His passion was the Canadian parks system, working in Ontario and British Columbia before becoming the head of Parks Canada in 1993. In 1998 he was appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly created Parks Canada Agency. The appointment was the highlight of his career and he attributed the success of the Agency to its talented and dedicated staff. In 2019 he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions as a public servant and for his conservation of Canada’s natural resources.
Tom often spoke and wrote movingly about the beauty of Canada. He would describe the “white seagulls on brown farm furrows, stone boats and old coats, barn swallows and pond wallows, red pin cherries, and ripe raspberries” of his childhood farm. He believed that you could hear Canada’s “voices in its nature – a thundering waterfall, the cry of the osprey, the trembling of an aspen.”
With his favourite travelling companion Terry, Tom had the good fortune to travel the world, visiting every continent except Antarctica. They had the pins on a map on their wall to prove it. Tom could mend a canoe, lay a stone wall, tend a vegetable patch, build a playhouse or sundial for his grandchildren, take apart and rebuild a ’51 MG and play the flamenco guitar. He could name trees and wildflowers as he walked. He could tell you when an approaching storm was a tornado. He read widely and thought deeply. He often returned to the great authors of Russian literature.
Tom’s love for his wife spanned his ages. He inspired his children by example, mentored them with his words and supported their choices. He delighted in his grandchildren and his pride in each of them knew no bounds. While no funeral will be held for Tom, we ask you to keep him in your memories. The family will gather privately to celebrate Tom’s life later in the year. Donations in his name may be made to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
38 Responses
Hello Terry,
Although I have not met Tom, I am so very sorry to hear of his passing.
My most sincere condolences to you and your family.
Thinking of you.
Jacque Macdonald
It is with great sadness that we offer our condolences to Terry and family on the passing of Tom.
We were colleagues in the early days of what eventually became Ontario Parks before Tom moved to Victoria. Tom was a great leader and made an outstanding contribution to parks and protected areas across the nation not the least of which was the Parks Canada Agency. He will be greatly missed by his many friends in the broader conservation community.
Our thoughts and sympathies are with you.
It is with great sadness, I send my condolences to Terry and family. I was fortunate to work directly with Tom on challenges facing Canada’s most special places and specifically Banff National Park. His leadership and friendship are treasured – he was the most influential person in my professional life. I still hear his speech describing Canada by highlighting national parks and national historic sites – he so eloquently spoke of what it means to be Canadian. Thank you Tom.
It was a true honour for me to have served at Parks Canada under the leadership of Tom Lee. He was a visionary with a poetic touch who made one proud of being a member of that organization.
I offer you my sincerest condolences .
Tom & Heidi and families. Our sympathies on your father’s passing. A great man has moved on to his next chapter
Kelly & Kim xo
A legend within Parks Canada. We owe the success of the Parks Canada Agency to Tom.
My condolences to the family.
Tom Sr. was a wonderful and joyful chef. His turkey dinners provided epic moments for family gatherings and just plain fun. His passion for these times and the sense of kinship he so served was inspirational and heartwarming. He will be greatly missed, but the memories of the great times together will live on. His leadership was quiet and unassuming. but still felt and appreciated by all. Our hearts are with Tom Jr., Heidi and Terry who will feel his loss strongly in these early days, but we all can draw on the strength he fostered in us to weather this and create space for the joy he showed for the simple parts of everyday life. Lori and Ron
Our sincere condolences to Terry and the family.
All our love and deepest condolences from New Zealand. I knew how much Tom and Terry loves their travels there. What an amazing man and such a loss to the world and his family.
Our hearts go out to you and your family. We are so sorry for your loss. We had the pleasure of sharing a few gatherings with Tom here in Victoria and enjoyed his company immensely.
May your memories out shine the tears. Thinking of you all at this difficult time.
Eric, Layna & Macyn Watchorn