CONACHER, James

May 5, 1921 - April 9, 2020 Jim passed away less than a month before his 99th birthday. Jim’s wife of 71 years, Bonnie, who was the love of his life and his true passion, predeceased him in 2013. Jim was born in Motherwell, Scotland, and came when he was 5 years old with his mother, Margaret, to Toronto to join his father, Robert, who had immigrated to Canada before them. By the age of 8 Jimmy was playing hockey. When he was a young man, a talent scout with the Detroit Red Wings organisation saw Jim in skates and the "most exciting time of his life" began. When he was playing for the Detroit farm team in Omaha, Nebraska, he met Bonnie who was a receptionist at the local radio station where Jim was being interviewed. They were married just before Jim entered World War II military service at Camp Borden, Ontario. After the war Jim resumed his hockey career with the Red Wings. He was a center forward and he also played for the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers. For a few years before he died, Jim was the oldest living NHL hockey player in the world. He retired in 1953, returned to Canada and thoroughly enjoyed a 25 year career in advertising with Toronto newspapers. He recalled helping Tim Horton get a summer job there. Jim and Bonnie retired early and moved with a friend to Coronada, San Diego, for a time and then finally settled in West Vancouver. After they retired Jim took up golf and for a number of years played every day. The Conachers actively supported the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. When Bonnie became ill, about 11 years ago, they moved into Sunrise of Lynn Valley, a long term care community in North Vancouver. Many thanks to the wonderful people at Sunrise who looked after Jim and Bonnie for their remaining years.