
Although we had met Jim and Leila in Toronto through Helen and Alan, we really got to know them after we moved from Denver to West Vancouver 22 years ago. They generously lent us their home in Lions Bay while we were house-hunting. Since then we have shared numerous excursions, several New Year’s Eve dinners cooked one course at a time, and some significant milestones in our own lives that we will always treasure. Memorable adventures with Jim and Leila include camping on Vancouver Island despite the rain and beautiful boat trips on the Alice B II. On one trip to the Stewart Island area, Jim caught his first salmon – a big one. When we think of Jim, we picture him driving his boat after checking everything out in a methodical manner. We remember his dry sense of humor, curiosity and fondness for world travel, and his love for Leila and the dogs. Jim was a kind and generous man and we will truly miss him. We will use a hatchet to open our next bottle of champagne in honor of him.

It is hard to find the words to describe what an incredible figure Uncle Jim was in my life. From the time I was 9 years old I would fly out to BC every summer to visit Auntie Leila and Uncle Jim all by myself. They would wisk me away on all sorts of adventures by foot, boat, skiis, and camper van. These trips were a major influence on my love of outdoor activity. I hold very dear all of my memories of Uncle Jim. When I think of him I see him leaning over a map to answer one of my many questions, slowly savouring delicious scones Auntie Leila made for breakfast, or chuckling and saying "Oh neat!". I will miss him dearly and I can only hope my own son will have such a figure to inspire a love of nature, learning, and adventure. With hugs, and my most heartfelt condolences to Auntie Leila and the whole family. 

So many memories of Jim and Leila over the years.  Thankfully, we were able to spend some time in the fall, and even made it to Garibaldi.  We recall grand feasts of crab, detailed sagas of adventures, walking with his beloved dogs, and his exceptional generosity of spirit.  Wherever you are Jim, we hope the wind is with you and the snow is pristine.  With heartfelt sympathy, Love, Sue and Alex

I think Jim took "Uncling" very seriously and shared many life lessons with his many nieces and nephews. I share another sample of his technique for C.W.D.   (champagne without delay, of course).
We miss you and thank you for the time you shared with us.

Doug and Liisa, Nile and Elena.
PS. Leila, quick , where are the glasses

I am so glad I was able to see so much of Uncle Jim since I moved out to BC 16 years ago.  I have so many memories just looking around my condo at the various home projects he helped me with (as spring turns to summer, I will be enjoying the custom patio umbrella holder he made for me).  I have also enjoyed exploring different parts of BC with him, from Haida Gwaii, to camping in the interior of BC last year.  In this picture, we are in Tofino, and Uncle Jim has just demonstrated his well-practiced trick of opening a champagne bottle with an axe.
Love, Laura


Meeting my neighbour Jim down at the beach or walking the dogs always made my day. His smile and positive aura gave me - and everyone who met him - happiness.
Thank you, Jim, for your friendship.
And thank you, Leila, for all the happiness you have given to Jim.

Hubert Kustermann with Urd and Family

I have many fond memories of time spent with Uncle Jim, from Wiarton to Whistler. One of the things that was great about him was his ability to invite you along to whatever he was doing, from fixing fences to helping with the boat. Lori was remembering her experience of helping Jim kill and clean crabs for dinner. Jim’s ability to share the things he enjoyed with others helped us enjoy them too, like dropping off fresh Niagara peaches to me at university on his way up to Wiarton. He will be missed. Thoughts and prayers with you all. 

Malcolm Billing

A great guy! Skied on his 86th birthday. So sad to say good by to a wonderful friend. Thoughts and prayers with you, Leila.

The memories from times we spent with Jim 
 boating,  camping or just hanging out,  will be recalled many times and treasured forever.  So many adventures shared,  new places, and familiar faces.  Making smores delicious without chocolate,  failing to find a missed piece of  crab in Jim's discarded shells so we could tease him about wasting it,  and enjoying his many stories, you will be missed my friend. We thank you for sharing you with us. Love Gill, Ray and Kona
 


Joost and I have wonderful memories of hiking in the Hat Creek valley with Jim, Leila, and of course Sadie and Tiegan.

This is one of my favourite pictures of grandad. He had taken my sister and I out skiing. Everyone in line was raising their poles in hopes a bird would land on them. Without even trying a bird had landed on his head and he hadn’t noticed until we pointed it out. He seemed rather amused no one else had a bird but him. I’ll miss his laugh, was always contagious. 

Since Saturday we have been thinking even more about Jim and have been remembering the many amazing holidays that we have enjoyed with Jim and Leila.  Probably the most memorable was our trip through southeast Asia in 2008.  In Cambodia and Vietnam, older adults are treated with reverence, something that we had certainly not experienced in Canada.  Jim was the oldest member of our tour group at the young age of 73.  He was delighted to be treated with such respect – being given his meals before anyone else and enjoying the attentions of young females and the Communist chief of a rural village.  This photo shows Jim with a singer in a group that was performing for some Communist party members on a river stop in northern Vietnam and she was thrilled to be photographed with Jim.

Our thoughts continue to be with Leila and their family.  We feel so fortunate to have known Jim and shared so many happy memories.

With love to you all,
Helen and Alan Billing

Miss you dad. 
There's a piece of my heart that's just not going to be the same again.
I'll always stop to listen to the frogs and move the turtles across the road for you.
Love you.

OBITUARY

Mr. James Arnold Sims

Hollyburn Funeral Home

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