Transwest Air co-founder dies at age 50

A year later he helped forge the merger of Athabasca and La Ronge Aviation to form what is now, one of the largest private aviation companies of its kind in Canada.

Today the Prince Albert based airline has 40 aircraft, more than 250 employees, and conducts regular flights and freight service to seven communities.

The growth of the company has helped connect the north to the south, said Wrightson.

“We do have a good business relationship with the isolated communities in the Far North with the three Athabasca bands, as well as other business relationships up there. Transwest Air has been very instrumental and Jim has been a part of that from the very beginning.”

Not only was Jim a commercial pilot and entrepreneur, he was a major booster of the soccer community.

His family donated $500,000 to help build the Alfred Jenkins Field House.

But, Jim didn’t just sit on the sidelines. He was an assistant coach with the Under-14 Celtic Boys, as well as a participant and organizer for the Senior Pikes team.

Clarke Hillaby has been a friend of Jim’s for 10 years, ever since moving to Prince Albert from Halifax. He said Jim’s competitive spirit is something he admired.

“If we were down 6-0 or 1-0, it didn’t matter to him. He hated losing. It just killed him. He and I were quite similar that way.”

“It is just unfathomable for him to be not here with us right now.”
“It’s devastating,” Hillaby said.

In addition to being involved in numerous charities, he was also a member of the Air Transport Association of Canada, the Chamber of Commerce in Prince Albert, and other various boards and committees, including the Children's Hospital Foundation.

There will be a celebration of Jim's life at a later date. Jim is survived by his five children.

bbosker@panow.com

Twitter: @brentbosker

by Brent Bosker

Transwest Air co-founder dies at age 50

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