Skip to content
May 5, 2021
It is with deep sorrow and much love we mourn the passing of James (Jim) Ian Strachan of Calgary Alberta. Jim passed away on May 5, 2021 at the age of 82 years.
Jim will be lovingly remembered by his step-children, Marilyn, Arlene and Valerie (Mike), his brother Ken (Sharon), his sister Marge, nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces, his step-grandchildren, step-great grandchildren, sisters in-law, brothers in-law and his many friends whom he had made over the years.
Jim is predeceased by his loving wife, Olive, of 43 years and his parents, Duncan and Muriel.
Jim was born and raised in Dawson City. He lived in the Yukon for almost 40 years before moving to Calgary. In his formative years, Jim went to school in Dawson City and graduated from Dawson City High School.
One of his first jobs after completing high school was working as a cooks assistant on a cat train for Oil Explorations in an area that the Dempster Highway later reached. Growing up he worked alongside his parents at the Strachan Grocery and Hardware stores, Placer Mining, their construction company, hauling ore out of Clinton Creek and hauling wood. He was also a truck driver and heavy equipment mechanic.
With his dad and their work crew they push through the bush for the first seventy-two miles of the Aklavik Road later named the Dempster Highway and he helped his family grow experimental vegetables and fruit on their farm.
Later he moved to Whitehorse and partnered with Phil Todd at McRae Truck Stop and worked a silver mine near Elsa, Yukon with John Todd.
Jim's desire to travel took him to the south pacific and eventually he moved to Calgary where he decided to learn ballroom dancing. As luck would have it this is where he met the love of his life, Olive. They danced together and won many awards.
After a short courtship they married in December, 1976 and together, with her three beautiful daughters, started a new chapter in their lives and became a family. Jim was a romantic at heart and made sure that he would bring Olive flowers every week and take her out on 'date night' every Friday night.
He took his beloved on many adventures, travelling throughout the United States including Hawaii, through BC and to Europe. Jim loved to fish, hunt and hike, he took many pictures of his travels.
Jim was a hard worker who worked as a heavy equipment mechanic until the age of 76 when he was forced into retirement because he was struck with cancer. In December 2019 he was dealt another devastating blow when his Olive passed away. He mourned her passing and when his cancer returned his fight was over. Jim's passing leaves a hole in our hearts. He is missed but we know he is with his greatest love, Olive, looking over the many lives they had touched.


Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.