James Park

We are saddened by the passing of James (Jim) Duncan Park on October 02, 2021 in Salmon Arm, BC after a lengthy illness.

Jim was born on February 25, 1933 in Regina, SK to parents Ingeborg and James Ernest (Ernie) Park, who was the Chief Horticulturist and Landscape Architect for the Government of Saskatchewan. The family lived on the grounds of the Legislature surrounded by nature and space to run.  Jim had fond memories of clearing snow from the steps of the Legislative Building in the winter prior to the arrival of Tommy Douglas, who was frequently the first to arrive to work and always issued a cheery ‘good morning’.

Jim had a passion for electronics and ham radio (call sign VE7IW) that led him to employment as a radio operator in a one-man radio station at Foster Lake in northern Saskatchewan and as a radio technician for the RCMP in southern Alberta. Jim met his future bride, Pat, in Lethbridge where she was employed as a secretary for the RCMP. The two were married in 1958 and then transferred to Penticton, BC where they started their family. In 1963 Jim and family returned to Alberta where he went to work for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology as an instructor in the electronics department.

Jim’s parents purchased an acreage on Mara Lake, BC in 1948 and thus began Jim’s long-standing love of the natural beauty of the Shuswap. Jim and Pat moved their family to Salmon Arm in 1970 for work at the local campus of Okanagan College. They were excited to oversee the building of their new home with a view of Shuswap Lake.

Jim’s health declined over the past decade and he moved to Piccadilly Care Centre in September 2019. His family would like to extend sincere thanks to Dr. Levins, Dr. Malinowski, Dr. Mayo-Bruinsma, staff from Interior Health’s Home Care Program and everyone at Piccadilly who provided wonderful care and support to Jim these past two years.

Jim leaves behind his beloved wife of sixty-three years, M. Patricia (Pat) Park, daughters Nancy (Dion) Boisvenue and Donna Park (Rod Martens), and grandchildren Chris and Mike Boisvenue and Ben and Leah Martens. He also is survived by one sister, Celia (Jack) Nix and one brother, David (Dianne) Park.

At Jim’s request there will be no service. At a later date the family will be returning Jim’s ashes to the earth at Mara Lake, a place he loved like no other.

Epitaph on my own Friend

An honest man here lies at rest,

As e’er God with His image blest:

The friend of man, the friend of truth;

The friend of age, and guide of youth:

Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,

Few heads with knowledge so inform’d:

If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;

If there is none, he made the best of this.

By Robert Burns