In Loving Memory of

Dr. James Gordon "Jim" Pearson

of Edmonton
Jan 16, 2020

On January 28, 1970, Jim took up his positions both as Director of the Department of Radiotherapy at the Cross Cancer Institute and Professor of Radiotherapy and Oncology at the University of Alberta Medical School. On December 31, 1986, he retired from a position as Executive Director of the Alberta Cancer Board, where he oversaw the establishment of the Alberta Cancer Foundation in September 1984. Jim looked back on the years, during which the Cross grew to become a comprehensive treatment, research and teaching institution with pride and satisfaction.

Born in the West Yorkshire town of Cleckheaton, UK, he attended the University of Leeds medical school, graduating in 1944. His career in the UK included two years with the Royal Army Medical Corps, where he served in Greece and in Egypt and rose to the rank of Captain in the 4th Norfolk Battalion. Prior to coming to Canada, he lived and worked in Edinburgh, Scotland where he was consultant radiotherapist at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

On May 27, 1947, Jim married Mary Tomlinson, whom he met at the University of Leeds where she studied nursing; they had three children, Michael, Douglas and Angela. They were married more than 60 years before Mary’s death in 2011. They shared a life which included many happy times on Nelson Island in British Columbia where they lived in a rustic cabin near the sea and put to work the many family members, relatives and friends who visited them at Hidden Basin.

Jim is survived by a large extended family including his sons, Michael and Douglas (Layla); daughter, Angela (Robert Gilchrist) who lived close to him in Edmonton; and all of Scotland. He loved to see Mairi, Catriona, Eilidh and James, the children of Michael and his wife Angela, and Doug and Layla’s children, Mhairi, Iona and Hamish, all of whom kept in close touch. Recently, he has been kept well supplied with photos of two young great-grandsons, Lachie and Angus, sons of Catriona and her husband Toby Tilsley who live in New Zealand. The Scottish contingent of great grandchildren included Esme, Grace, Harry, Eliza and Forest, born just days before his death. Missing from this group is his daughter-in-law Angela, Mike’s wife, who died tragically in 2004, and the many other members of his extended family who will be saddened by his death.