James G. Lorimer

Councillor: 1967-1968

Awarded Status of Freeman: April 2, 1990 (Presentation Made April 6, 1990)

In 2005 it was announced that one of Burnaby’s newest park sites would be named in honour of former Councillor and MLA, James Lorimer, with the current Mayor and Council proclaiming that this was a long overdue acknowledgement of one of Burnaby’s hardest workers.

Although quite proud to claim his strong Burnaby roots, Jim spent a lot of his younger years working on a farm in Sooke, completing his high school diploma through correspondence courses. In 1943, he began studying at Victoria College, but was quickly called away from academia to join his brothers serving with the Canadian Scottish Regimental Infantry. The Lorimer family became the only family in Canada that sent four sons to war to serve in the same Battalion. Jim joined the army in June 1943 and was sent to serve in northwest Europe. While two of his brothers were wounded, and sadly, one was killed in 1944, Jim returned safely to Canada at the end of the war to settle with his wife Cicely Edith Charters (to whom he was married on October 22, 1943).

Upon his return to British Columbia in 1946, Jim worked as a commercial fisherman, longshoreman and ship-yard worker, all the while raising his family and earning a law degree from the University of British Columbia. He was called to the bar in 1949 and began his career in Grand Forks. But he did not stay away from Burnaby long, and in 1954 returned to establish his law practise in this community.

After achieving success in his chosen field, Jim decided to take a more active interest in politics and ran for federal office in 1957 in the Vancouver-Quadra riding. Although losing that bid to Howard Green, Jim became more active in local politics and in 1966 won a seat on Burnaby Council. He served as a Councillor and Alderman for Burnaby for the next two years, and then decided the time was right to make a foray into provincial politics representing the New Democratic Party, running and winning in the Burnaby-Willingdon riding in 1969. He won the seat again in 1972 and served until 1975, when he lost the seat to Elwood Veitch. Undeterred by the loss, Jim decided to throw his hat in the ring during the 1979 election and won, serving as MLA until 1983.

From 1972 to 1975, Jim served the Province of British Columbia and the Municipality of Burnaby as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Commercial Transport. During this time he arranged for the transfer of the Oakalla farm lands on a 100 year lease basis to the Municipality of Burnaby at no charge, and was responsible for doubling the stock of transit vehicles to extend urban transit services to areas beyond the Vancouver border. He also oversaw the design and construction of the SeaBus system, the expansion of the Burnaby General Hospital and he arranged for Provincial funding to stock the apothecary shop in Heritage Village. As well, he also served as a Director on the BC Hydro Board of Directors and as Chairperson of the BC Harbours Board. While Chair of the Harbours Board, Jim initiated the BC Court of Appeal Reference on behalf of the Provincial Government for the declaration that Roberts Bank and Georgia Strait were in Provincial and not Federal jurisdiction.

Jim’s many years of public service were formally recognized by Burnaby in April of 1990 when he was bestowed the title of Freeman of the Municipality.