Jim was born in 1929 and raised in Edmonton, Alberta by James McLaren “Jim” Proudfoot and Christine Florence (nee McLean) Proudfoot. He attended Strathcona High School, and his school years were where he began his love of outdoor pursuits, playing various sports and participating along with close friends in backcountry skiing events hosted by the Alpine Club of Canada. He later taught ski school in Banff and competed in downhill, slalom and ski jumping events in Alberta and BC over the years.

Following high school, Jim took a few different positions exploring various interests, including “working pipeline” (including the Trans Mountain Pipeline) in the oil and gas industry in various locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It was on a trip to Saskatchewan where he met Ethel Meyers. Soon after, they were married and starting a family back in Edmonton. He subsequently put his passion for recreation to work at the Kinsmen Sports Centre, while attending the University of Alberta, earning Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Education, and a Master of Arts in Geography, specializing in recreation. Jim was honoured with initiation by the U of A Athletic Board into the “Block A Club” in 1963.

Following graduation from U of A in 1965, he took a 15-year appointment as instructor and head of the new Geography Department at Red Deer College (now Red Deer Polytechnic), where he enjoyed teaching and coaching the College’s canoe and cross-country running teams, as well as making incredible life-long friends with college faculty members and the wider education community in Red Deer.

In the late 1960s he attended Oregon State University to study Environmental Sciences, with an eye towards completing a PhD. The political climate of the day in the United States, as well as a love for his career in instruction, led him back to Canada.

Along with instructing at Red Deer College, Jim jumped into farming with both feet, starting with a few livestock at an acreage in Red Deer, and ending with 200 head of cattle, haying, and grain farming on four quarter sections outside of Lacombe!

Jim semi-retired in 1980 and moved with his family to BC, first briefly to the Slocan Valley and then settling in Creston, where he enjoyed substitute teaching at what is now Kootenay River Secondary School.

Jim met and married his beloved wife Karen while living in Creston, and they enjoyed many happy years together, traveling all over the world, teaching each other new hobbies like quilting (yes, Jim actually won a prize at a quilting competition, once, thanks to Karen’s tutelage!) and enjoying many outdoor pursuits together. They lived in Creston and Invermere, before settling in Kimberley, where they fell in love with the outdoor lifestyle and natural beauty of the area.

Jim lived for multiple sports, sometimes as a participant, sometimes as a competitor, occasionally as a coach, and always as a learner. Among his many activities over the years were downhill and cross country skiing, ski jumping, track and field, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hunting, curling, golfing, swimming, and cycling. He was an inspiration to people to keep participating in sport and outdoor activities at any age, and to get off the couch and into a sport. He started competing in the BC Seniors Games as a swimmer in the 1990s, and continued competing every year, up to the age of 89. He didn’t let a lower leg amputation at the age of 90 dampen his sporting spirits: he continued to swim recreationally for as long as he was able, and he very much enjoyed participating with Karen in the Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo cycling tour on his electric recumbent tricycle, as the oldest participant! Never one to shy away from learning a new pursuit, he took up painting as a senior citizen and enjoyed honing his artistic skills, well into his 90s.

Jim is survived by his wife Karen; his children James (Catherine), Heather (Rick) and Wendy; wife Karen’s daughter Shannon (Mark); his grandchildren Andrea (Alex), Kimberley (Mike), Stephanie (Scott), Karl (Sarah), Carolyn (Josh), and Max; Karen’s grandchildren Elisabeth and Liam; numerous great-grandchildren, the mother of his children Ethel (nee Meyers) Morton, and much-loved friends. He was predeceased by his parents Jim and Christine Proudfoot.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Kimberley Special Care Home (The Pines); his care team Andrea Wallace, Dr. Victoria Elliot, and Dr. Anneline Du Preez; and the many friends and professionals who provided care and support to Jim and Karen over the past few years.

In lieu of flowers, anyone so inclined is encouraged to make a donation to the Jasper Community Team Society to support the recovery of the Jasper community from the 2024 wildfire, as Jasper held a very special place in Jim’s heart. Donations to the Salvation Army would also be welcomed, as it was Jim’s charity of choice.