James Bernard McKinnon

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye for now to James Bernard McKinnon. Born, December 2, 1947 to Murdock and Wanda (Kokoska) McKinnon in Sydney. Jimmy passed away on July 14, 2026 surrounded by love in the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Jimmy will be missed and remembered by many. He is survived by his sister Dorothy (Hughie) MacKinnon, Coxheath; and brothers Johnny McKinnon, Port Hawksbury and Joey (Roxanne) McKinnon, Sackville, NB; and his many nieces and nephews and their children, all of whom he was very proud and his cousins. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Louise McKinnon and his brother Roddie McKinnon. Growing up in Sydney as a proud North Ender, Jimmy had lots of great friends. He was a natural athlete and loved playing lots of sports, especially baseball and hockey. He was a key member of Cape Breton's first little league team to win the Canadian Championship, pitching a no hitter in one game and hitting a grand slam in another. He had an easy going fun loving character but also was very protective of his family and friends. Jimmy graduated from Saint FX with a Bachelor of Science and received his Engineering Degree from the Nova Scotia Technical College (Dalhousie University) as a metallurgical engineer. He was a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia and had an interesting career in the private sector in Quebec, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and with the Federal Department of Natural Resources Canada. In his retirement years, Jimmy did a bit of travelling and enjoyed his family and his time fishing, swimming, walking the boardwalk and swapping stories with his cousin Frankie Kokoska or his friends at Tim's. A time of visitation will take place on Thursday, July 23 from 11:00am until the start of the funeral service at 1pm all at TW Curry Parkview Chapel, 755 George St., Sydney. Inurnment at Resurrection Cemetery. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting twcurry.com. Family flowers only. If desired, donations can be made to the Children's Wish Foundation.