Obituary of James (Jim) Layton McLELLAN

April 18, 1939 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
December 26, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

James (Jim) Layton McLellan of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 26, 2020 at the age of 81 years.

He was the only child of James McLellan and Cecilia Staples who predeceased him. 

Jim was born in Winnipeg, MB, raised in Lethbridge, AB, and moved to Calgary in grade eleven, graduating from Crescent Heights High School. While attending university, he met and married Jacqueline Vera Curliss on August 5, 1961. 

Jim excelled in track and field as a youth in Lethbridge and held several provincial records. As a result of his outstanding hockey skills as a goalie he was a prospect for the Chicago Blackhawks, but he decided that an education was more important.

Football was his great love and he played all through High School and was a player, as well as a coach, for the Broncs and Wranglers Junior football teams in Calgary.

His involvement with the Calgary High School Athletic Association as a coach, a High School Principal, and supporter led to an Honorary Lifetime Membership and pass-holder for all High School sporting events. He also loved curling and golfing, as well as being a lifelong supporter of the Calgary Stampeders.

Jim was a reluctant student growing up, but was determined to gain an education.  He attended the University of Calgary, where he was the first President of the Student Union on the new campus. He completed his is Bachelor of Education and his Masters of Education at the University of Calgary, where he was also a member of the Senate.  He went on to complete his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership at Brigham Young University. 
 
Jim began his career as a teacher with the Calgary Board of Education. He was particularly proud of the fact that he brought the International Baccalaureate program to the first public high school in Canada, at Sir Winston Churchill in Calgary. After this Principalship he became an Area Superintendent and then moved on to the University of Calgary as an Associate Professor.  Jim taught long distance learning in the years long before Covid-19 made it a necessity. 

Because of his involvement with the International Baccalaureate board, he was drawn to international work and became the Director of the Vienna International School in Austria, the Director of Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, in Victoria, BC, a Director of St. Catherine’s-Moorlands in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Headmaster of The Caribbean School in Puerto Rico, and the Director of the American International School in Cairo, Egypt.  

He was on the board of the International Schools Association for many years and was given a world award for a lifetime of outstanding educational leadership. After retiring and returning to Canada he continued to do international consulting and hiring, and was chosen to be on an international committee for the evaluation of the K-12 educational system in Abu Dhabi, UAE. 
 
Jim was particularly happy with his involvement with his OMEGA group and was diligent in attending “meetings” until they were ended due to Covid-19 restrictions.  It was a long-time friendship with his CBE colleagues.
  
Jim was a “people person”, a lifelong educator, and loved to be around others. He was always anxious to talk to anyone whether he knew them or not, reluctant to leave any gathering, loved stories and jokes, was passionate about sports, always the last one to leave a gym, and had a great sense of humour. He walked the halls of every school he worked in, attended every concert and game, and had a passion for his work every day. He loved watching his children, Jamie, John, and Jennifer, and all eight of his grandchildren play sports, and attended all games, no matter the time or place. 

His legacy of quick wit, friendship, smiles, mentoring, and commitment will continue to be remembered in the many lives he touched and will be carried on in our hearts. 

Jim was a teacher from the start of his career to the end of his life and was still travelling the world, helping schools, and planning his next trip in his mind until his last day.

Besides his wife Jackie, he is lovingly remembered by his children, Jamie and Shelley (nee Seidel) McLellan and their children, Jared (Victoria) McLellan, Jessica (Tyler Grigor), Jake (Emma Purnell), and Josh; John and Dionne (nee Williams) McLellan and their children, Lauren and Rowan; and Jennifer (Kelly McTighe) and their children, Madison and Emily.

A Funeral Service for immediate family will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB), on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. All are invited to watch the live-streamed service at this link: https://vimeo.com/event/580121.  Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of James McLellan, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.