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TWO LEFT PHOTOS: PETER BOYLE THIS PHOTO: JOHN MACLENNAN made each of us better along the way. Though the ripples of this loss are being felt across the country, they can’t travel half as far as the reach of his impact.” One of Jim’s most important contributions to labour and social justice organizing, was the role he played in helping to create a labour-community movement called “We Are Oshawa.” From its inception, Jim was always very clear that We Are Oshawa is quite pointedly not a coalition, but a horizontal, democratic membership organization whose political focus is determined by those members. It brought together a network of labour, students, community activists, environmentalists, retirees and youth to launch creative campaigns for social change. Never intimidated by the changing times, Jim was an early adopter of social media and used Facebook and Twitter to grow a political movement outside of the traditional circle of union activists. However, his skill at adapting to new technology was defined by his aptitude for the “social” part of social media. Whether in person or online, Jim knew how to connect to people and make them feel like part of a broader movement. He frequently called on activists to make political events more fun, so that people feel positively about the movement and form the social bonds that keep them involved. With love and solidarity from Ontario’s regional labour councils. OFL ACTION REPORT 23 “Jim was the real deal – raw and unvarnished. He was a fearless activist who believed in the power of the labour movement but also understood that the full potential of popular movements can only be leveraged when labour and the community were fused together in solidarity,” said Patti Dalton, President of the London and District Labour Council. “Jim’s work in pioneering the We Are Oshawa initiative really raised the bar for labour councils across the country and inspired us to follow the example he set.” “We could always count on Jim to challenge leadership with the tough questions that needed to be asked. He will be sadly missed, not only by me, but by everyone who had the pleasure of working alongside him.” Hassan Yussuff, CLC President In 2012, Jim was recognized with the first ever Kathie Fowlie Award of Excellence for Community Building from the Labour Community Services of the Durham Region United Way. It was a testament to a lifetime dedicated to growing a movement. Despite his affable and easy-going demeanor, Jim was stubbornly committed to his principles and it was a trait that sometimes gave him cause to rise at a convention microphone in opposition to his union or party leadership. However, it was precisely this tenacity that earned him the respect of his political allies and opponents alike. “Jim was a passionate labour council and local leader. Throughout his life, Jim was known for his commitment to labour and to the NDP. We could always count on Jim to challenge leadership with the tough questions that needed to be asked,” said Hassan Yussuff, President, Canadian Labour Congress. “He will be sadly missed, not only by me, but by everyone who had the pleasure of working alongside him. This is a tragic loss for our movement.” Jim is survived by his beloved longtime spouse, Monique Hayes, and a movement of labour and community activists that often felt more like family than comrades and political allies. The labour movement, joins the Oshawa community in mourning the loss of one of its most principled and straight-talking activists. W you,