Tribute

Charles James (Jim) Bright died June 14, 2018 at Cairnsmore Place, Duncan, B.C., in the company of close family and friends after saying his goodbyes to the many others who visited in the preceding weeks and months. Jim had been living with ALS for the last three years.

Jim was born October 29, 1940.  His parents were the late Drs. C.A. and B.G. Bright.  He is survived by his wife and best friend Nancy Bright (Hunter-Cowtan).  He will be fondly missed and remembered by his brother Bob and wife Michelle, his nephews  Martin-Louis (Helen) and Antony (Nasir), his grand-niece Charlotte and grand-nephew Theo.    Missing him too are his children Tim Bright, Nadia and Kezia Cowtan, and his grandchildren Georgia and Andrew Bradbrooke, Ethan Foglio and Robin and Charles Saxby.

Jim was a teacher and lifelong learner, dedicating his life to education.  He graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa, and Advanced Study at the University of Waterloo. He taught English in Williamstown and Bramalea before coming to Waterloo County, first at Grand River Collegiate from 1970-79.   Jim was then English department head at Galt Collegiate from 1979 until his retirement from the WRDSB in June 1996.  He was especially interested in the development of media programs, writing programs–bringing computers into the writing process– and in fostering the extra curricular student yearbook.

Jim had many and varied interests and it could be said that he was a true Renaissance man. He was an avid sailor, hands-on fixer and problem-solver, cottage builder, maintainer of boats and living spaces, cook, host, reader, conversationalist and film lover. He devoted himself to three sailboats over the years:  Islander in Lake Ontario, Faraway II in Europe, and Island Lass in the Southern Gulf Islands in B.C.  Jim was an eager euchre player and was always ready for a game of cards. He was also always there with kind support and love for his family.  Jim greatly enjoyed wine and would gladly share a glass of his Chateau Napanee whenever the occasion required!

There were many happy times in Jim’s life including when he and Nancy lived aboard their sailboat, Island Lass during the winters of 2000- 2005. His base in the summer was Loynes Island, an original Loynes family pre-Confederation settlement shared in Jim’s lifetime with grandfather, parents, brother, uncle and aunt and cousins. From there he sailed Lake Ontario, to the Maritimes and back.  When at the Island, he made many improvements to the cottage he inherited and from where he and Nancy entertained family and friends. Jim gave wholehearted support to Nancy’s involvement in ESL tutoring volunteerism, and most recently in the sponsorship and settlement of Syrian refugees on Vancouver Island.

Cremation in Duncan B.C. will be followed by a celebration of Jim’s life at Loynes Island in the Bay of Quinte in Ontario, at a date to be determined.

Donations in his memory may be made to the ALS Society of B.C. or the charity of your choice.

No obituary at this time.