James J. McKenna died this morning just two (2) months short of his 87th birthday in Toronto, Canada. Jim McKenna was one of the early leaders that built Kenscott Ltd. and BDI Canada. The strong work ethic and leadership of Jim McKenna contributed to the growth and success of BDI and our industry in every part of the world.
Jim McKenna was born on July 3, 1934 in Bellshills, Scotland-just outside of Glasgow. He emigrated to Canada in 1964. The afternoon of the day he landed in Toronto, he was hired by Leach Scott, the founder of Kenscott, as an inventory clerk. Within a few weeks he was promoted to sales as the Dow Corning specialist. Jim McKenna advanced quickly through many positions at Kenscott as Kenscott grew to the dominant distributor in Ontario. One of the many natural talents of Jim McKenna was his continuous curiosity. That curiosity opened many of the businesses BDI continues to service to this day. He started the steel industry servicing both Dofasco and US Steel in Hamilton, Ontario. He participated in the development of the marine business on the Great Lakes-and overseas. He developed the differential drive solutions for the flour milling industry that became branded as Jaymark that continues to today. Serving in operations, early computer systems, inside sales, outside sales, branch manager and Vice President-Jim McKenna started business in automotive, brewing, steel, mining, food processing, maritime and most all other customer industry segments that we work in at BDI.
Jim continued to work for BDI following his retirement alongside Zoltan Arkovics and Milos Kysel in Europe and Jun Wang in China. Our EBC brand was created by Jim McKenna and Jun Wang traveling throughout China vetting out quality manufacturers of a variety of products. And well into his eighties Jim McKenna managed all of the BDI trademarks around the world. He was knowledgeable in not only industry-but also science, the arts, literature, history, government, construction and economics. He was a focused and unrelenting; staying with any project until completed, large or small. Jim McKenna was an active listener which enabled his strong opinions to find compromise He was always, closing.
Lea Galido has worked with most everyone at Kenscott and BDI remembers Jim:
I describe Jim as someone who is kind and always thinks about other people’s feelings as thoughtful or considerate. A hard worker, someone who has a sharp memory and always has time to talk to you no matter how busy he is.
Jim McKenna worked with at least three (3) generations of colleagues at both Kenscott and BDI-including alongside his daughter Alison McKenna. Jim leaves his wife Maureen, his son, David, his daughter Alison, his grandchildren Callan and Ruby and his brother Arthur. He will be sadly missed by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and all of us.
Due to Covid-19 the services will be private. Cremation has taken place and Jim can now spend all of his time at his beloved cottage where he will long be remembered.
Donation in memory of Jim can be made to:
Hill House Hospice https://hillhousehospice.com/donations
Jumpstart Canada - https://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/
Canadian Cancer Society www.cancer.ca
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