Quadra Island lost one of its long-term residents with the passing of Jim Westhaver on June 2nd. Jim, who was forty-six at the time of his death, was born in London, Ontario and raised through his school years in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Jim had been a resident of Quadra Island for at least twenty years and was known locally as "Jimmy Walker" as he was often seen walking the roads of the Island to and from his home, the post office, or the stores. He was known as "Jimbo" to the many friends he would regularly meet at the Café Aroma to share a coffee and a cigarette while discussing local gossip and other affairs of state.

Unhappily, Jim had misfortunes in his life especially in the past few years when medical problems would often weigh heavily on him with different medications relieving one symptom but creating side effects for which other medications were taken. Despite his poor health, Jim was not a complainer - he soldiered on and made the best of his circumstances. Jim was a friendly fellow and always had a smile and a good word for everyone he met as well as much appreciation for small kindnesses which people showed him.

Jim was a regular reader of the Good Book and was known to pray for his own sins and for the sins of others. If he had a fault it was that he was too accepting of people and, as a consequence, was from time-to-time, taken advantage of despite his poor circumstances and meagre resources.

He regularly attended the community lunches at the Quadra Community Centre and, in early April, was feted on the occasion of his birthday, an event that left him with a smile from ear to ear. During the past year or so he had reestablished contact with his mother in Halifax, Nova Scotia and he was proud and happy to have done so, remarking often how much it meant to him to have a telephone call or a card or note from her.

Jim is survived by his mother, Veronica Wagner, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, his brothers Bruce of Fernie, BC, and Michael of Calgary, Alberta, his sisters Tammie Hart of Halifax, Belinda McMullin of Halifax, Sabrina McMullin of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and Brenda Westhaver of Calgary and by numerous nephews and nieces. He was pre-deceased by his father, Raymond, and by an older brother, Kim.

Jim was cremated at Sutton's Funeral Home in Campbell River and his ashes were sent to his family in Halifax where a memorial service was held. While the exact cause of death has not been determined, the Quadra RCMP report that the Coroner has ruled his death to be from natural causes.

Jim's many Quadra friends have raised close to $500 in donations for a memorial bench and plaque. A beautiful bench of natural woods has been fabricated by Tom Bremer with the assistance of Art Saull and is now in place at Café Aroma where Jim spent many a happy hour. A commemorative plaque of black granite has been fabricated by Richard DiBenedetto of Heriot Bay. It is expected that a short service will be held for Jim in the near future at Café Aroma, by his friends, with date and time to be announced by poster at the Cafe.