Dr. James Thompson Colquhoun

Dr. James Thompson Colquhoun died peacefully on December 9, 2022. The youngest son of Gertrude Thompson and William Colquhoun, he grew up to be a beloved family doctor and a stalwart community member. Jim was born in Windsor on November 22, 1927, and moved to Port Arthur after the death of his father when he was just five. Growing up during the Depression, the son of a working single mother, Jim was independent and capable. He started working as a young teenager, delivering orders for his uncle’s drugstore on a bicycle. He was a talented athlete and was quarterback of the high school football team. His older brothers Bob and Bill were role models when he was young, and friends when he was an adult.

Although Jim attended PACI with Cappy Morris, they didn’t date until they were both at the University of Toronto. Jim graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 1951, and after two years of internship he and Cappy were married in 1953 and moved back to Port Arthur, where Jim joined the Port Arthur Clinic. They welcomed and lovingly raised five children. Jim loved spending time with his family, preferably all at once. He loved nothing more than a large family dinner followed by a game of cards or a board game and we can all picture him at the head of the table balancing a grandchild on his knee.

Jim practiced family medicine at the Port Arthur Clinic for 60 years. He was the finest example of an old-fashioned family doctor who took shifts in the emergency room, delivered babies, and assisted in the operating room. He continued to do house calls long after it was a regular practice, and visited his elderly patients who were in long term care every week. He took care of four generations of some families, and delivered babies of women he had delivered. He often said he had the best job in the world, and he did it well. His patients would often tell us how much they appreciated his thoughtful, caring bedside manner.

In addition to his busy practice, Jim served on the executive of the Thunder Bay Medical Society, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Canadian Medical Association. He was the first doctor from Northern Ontario to serve as President of the OMA. He was Chief of Staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was appointed as a medical member of the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal for several terms. He mentored medical students through the NOMP program at McMaster University.

Jim’s favourite place was Amethyst Harbour. He started spending time there as a child with the Crooks family and he and Cappy made their camp a focal point for gatherings of family and friends for decades. Although Jim loved to travel, he never wanted to go anywhere in the summer except to camp. He loved to be on the lake, often in his rowboat, or on a windsurfer. He was not one for sitting around and always had a project on the go; everything from fixing lawn chairs to pulling out his suture kit when an injured neighbour came by.

Jim was a devoted husband, and a supportive father, brother and uncle. He was delighted to become a grandfather, and felt that each of his twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren was a precious gift.

Jim felt that it was important to give back to the community. Jim was an elder and former Clerk of Session of Lakeview Presbyterian Church, where he was an enthusiastic choir member for many years. He and Cappy were significant supporters of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. They were Leaders of the Way with the United Way. Jim served as a Trustee and member of the Board of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, and was on the Board of Governors of Lakehead University for many years. He was recognized as a Fellow of the University in 2001 and was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was a member of the Port Arthur Rotary Club for over 60 years, and could be seen in December ringing the bell for the Salvation Army kettle into his 90’s.

Jim was predeceased by his dear wife Cappy after 65 years of marriage. He is survived by his beloved children, Cathie (Mitch Baxter), Carolyn (Mark McEwen), Margot (David Ranta), Sally (Dan Newton) and Jim (Dr. Rosemary Wilson). He was the proud grandfather of Brianna (Geoff), Brittany (Travis) and Christa (Matt) Baxter; Dr. Charlotte and Jamie McEwen; Malcolm, Matti (Sharon) and Lissi (Eric) Ranta; Will Newton and Alice Colquhoun; and Lily (Carter) and Tom (Avery) Colquhoun, and delighted great-grandfather of Callum and Isla Wright and Rory Fong-Ranta. He will be fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to the many health care professionals, care givers, family members, and friends who have supported Jim through the last few years. The caring staff at Chartwell Thunder Bay made him feel at home. In lieu of flowers donations to the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dr. Jim Colquhoun will be held on Friday, December 16, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Those unable to attend in person may watch the service on-line via the Sargent & Son Facebook Page. Memorial visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-6 p.m. in the Sargent & Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.