Dearest Kiki, Ricky, and Jamie, 

I miss James and still don't really fully understand that he is gone (for now). I remember him in so many ways -- from the first time I met him over Skype when Kiki first came to our house; hugging him at (American) Thanksgiving; car rides up to the cottages; early morning--and late morning!!--coffees; rum on the beach. Above all else I shall remember the wicked gleam in his eye from time to time, his kind, warm, embracing smile. His radiant love for us all. The last time I saw him, he made us all laugh so hard he and I both had a few tears in our eyes: He and I were at the dining room table and everyone else was in the kitchen. I stood up to contribute to the clean up, and James said "honey?" and I looked up and said "Yes?" And he gave a little pause and said, "No, MY honey!" Delivered with perfect tempo, panache, teasing, humor and wit. We all erupted with laughter. In that moment, I fully grasped the extent of his brilliance and his exemplary humanity.  I will miss him and I will remember him. 

Love, 
lex

Dearest Tatjana, Jamie, and Rickie,
 
James was a man I was privileged to know only for a very short time, but I remember him in so many ways, as he was always putting others first.  I see him still, cleaning up the garden at Alexa's house after her birthday party, setting the table at the cottage for Thanksgiving dinner, sweeping the porch at the cottage. He was always taking care of you, and his love for all of you shone through at all times. 
 
With my deepest sympathy,

I had the good fortune to spend time with Jim in two chapters of my life. My father, Jack McHale worked with Jim and set my expectations very high for the writer and gentleman I would meet when I got a job in Globe Sports. Jim was great to work with - kind, patient, and professional, firing off bursts of terrific running copy on the glorious Radio Shack 64-bit computer.
Later, my son Wil played hockey with Ricky and I got to share in Jim's life again, along with his family, whom he adored. I spent a lot of early morning time with Jim at the end of the rink, talking a little about life and work, and mostly about our kids.
When the kids reached an age where hockey became a contact sport and Wil was outpaced in growth by his opponents, he got bounced around. A lot. Jim, a fan of every kid on the ice, somehow rustled up a smash-up derby trophy and presented it to Wil as a testament to his tenacity. He also gave Wil his TSN award for writing, just because Wil liked the way it looked.
Acts of kindness great were among the things that defined Jim. A straight up  terrific guy.

Dear Kiki, Jamie jr and Ricky,

My deepest condolences to you all. Jamie was such a wonderful man. I remember spending time at the cottage with your family, and then seeing Kiki and Jamie at my dad's house many times after that. Jamie would always give me a big, warm hug as a greeting. He was such a kind and gentle man. I'll always remember that.

It has taken me a long time to post my thoughts here, because I have found it difficult to find the words. I sat beside Jim for most of my 35 years at The Globe and Mail. We covered the Olympic beat together. We worked in tandem for years. We broke bread together. He knew a lot about me and I knew a lot about him, except the bit about him playing the trumpet. (Jim, you kept that from me?) I always remember him racing about with his fanny pack and a genial smile. I never saw him ruffled or rude to anyone, least of all to me. He was a lovely writer indeed, but he always pushed the deadlines to the max. Perhaps he liked to live on the edge, although outwardly, he did not appear so. He was always the one racing at top speed through the airports to catch a plane, pressing that deadline too. He told me once that one plane was closing its doors as he ran up, and they let him in. That seemed normal to him. I was with Jim the morning before he suffered a heart attack. We had been covering a press conference for triathletes, including Simon Whitfield at the CNE grounds. That heart attack caused him to miss the Sydney Olympics, so I had to cover those Games without him. While at the funeral on Saturday, I saw on a table a sepia-toned photograph of Jim in western dress, with a photo mat that shouted: "Wanted, dead or alive." That brought home to me more than anything that I have lost Jim, because I have a similar photograph at home. We had been covering the world athletics championships in Edmonton in 2001 (Jim back at work after the heart attack) and organizers had treated us to a media day at a Klondike Days village. On offering was a shop that did these photos, so I dressed up in an oilskin coat, with a stetson, a gun pointed upward and a smile. Wanted: Dead or Alive, just like Jim. Al Maki came up from Calgary to cover those championships too and stayed at the same hotel. Somehow, Jim landed the honeymoon suite, with an enormous tub in the middle of the room. Al and I took turns sitting in it (without water, mind), with a beer in hand, because we could. (Jim probably had already done it without either of us there.) At the end of every day, we would gather in Jim's spacious room and natter on about everything. There are so many millions of ordinary moments like this that make up a lifetime of relationships. I truly miss Jim. I hadn't counted on losing him so early on, but we are all so lucky that we had to chance to enjoy what Jim Christie was: a really good egg. To Tanya, James and Rickie, I'm there for you if you like. It's the least I can do for Jim.

It's taken me a long time to post here because I have been at a loss for words. I sat beside Jim at The Globe and Mail for most of my 35 years there. We covered the Olympic beat together. Travelled the world together. Broke bread together. He knew a lot about me and I knew a lot about him. I rarely saw him without his fanny pack and a genial smile. He never seemed ruffled by any deadline, which he pushed to the max. When he conducted interviews beside me, he used his radio voice, which you could hear on the other side of the room. So I learned how to focus to hear my own calls! He seemed to love life on the edge, although outwardly, he did not appear so. He always ran for the planes. He told me once, they were closing the doors to one when he arrived, after running the length of the hangar, and they let him in. That seemed normal to him. I was with Jim the morning before he had his heart attack, which caused him to miss the Sydney Olympics. I had to do those Games without him. At his funeral, I saw a sepia-toned photograph on a table with a mat that shouted: "Wanted: Dead or Alive," and I recognized it. I have one the same at home, except that I am in the photo, with a Stetson and a fun pointed upward and an oil-skinned coat, and apparently I was wanted dead or alive too. Jim was similarly dressed in his photo. This photo brought home to me more than anything that Jim was gone, because it was an illustration of our long friendship. You see, we had been in Edmonton, covering the world athletics championships in 2001 (Jim back at work after his heart attack) and the organizers held a media day and took us to a Klondike Days village, where the photo shop existed. And we had both taken advantage. Al Maki also covered this event, coming up from Calgary. And somehow, Jim managed to get the honeymoon suite, with a huge tub in the middle of the room. He lived a charmed life, indeed. At the end of the day, we would all gather in Jim's room to natter on about everything and Al and I would take turns sitting in the tub with a glass of beer, because we could. (Jim probably did it when we weren't there.) I'll miss Jim terribly. I never counted on losing him this early. But we are all so lucky that we had him for so many wonderful years. And Tanya, Rickie and James, I'll be there for you if you need it. It's the least I can do in Jim's memory.

I worked with Jim at the Globe and Mail and like everyone else who has written here, I found him to be a special man.  He was kind, generous and always calm -- plus, he was a lovely writer. One memory stands out.  Jim, Mary Hynes and I were the Globe's team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.  Jim had been to the rodeo many times before but these Games were special because he had been following the career of sprinter Ben Johnson and had written a biography of him.  A gold medal for the sprinter would have assured very good sales. Ben's 100-metre race was in the late morning (evening in Canada) and there was a sense of anticipation among Canadian reporters about what was coming. Jim was writing the background of his story in advance so he would be able to file in a hurry at the race's conclusion.  He called me over to ask for advice on his lede or first paragraph.  We knew he had to write two of them -- one for victory and one for defeat.  We crafted the positive one -- "It is Ben Johnson's Olympics" -- but never got around the other one.  The world knows that Ben won but that he was stripped of the medal a couple of days later because he failed a drug test.  This news leaked out in the middle of the night in Seoul.  Mary heard it from a colleague and, back at the flat, told Jim.  I was the slacker who was in bed when Jim knocked on my door to tell me.  We scattered to do our reporting and file the story and here's the thing:  the news of the failed drug test doomed Jim's book but he showed not a trace of self pity that night or in the days and weeks that followed.  He was able to laugh off his misfortune and he worked hard to get the real story.  He was a consummate professional and I'm so grateful I had the chance to work with him.

Dear Kiki, Jamie Jr. & Ricky,

Our deepest and sincere condolences for your loss. 
I will always remember Jim as a very sincere and kind person, I will remember his stories at cottage and at your home, his gentle way to present his arguments, his superior way with words...
Jim will live forever in our memories.

I met Jim almost 30 years ago when I worked in the Globe sports department for one summer.  He was exceptionally kind, quick witted and a wonderful mentor.  For years afterward, a group of us would go out for lunch and everyone enjoyed his sense of humour and stories of 'life on the road'.  We also heard much about his love for his family.  I recall his telling us about being airlifted and the Rodgers and Hammerstein song that kept repeating in his head until he was reunited with his dear wife.  True love.  Please accept my condolences.  He will be missed always but never forgotten by anyone who was privileged to meet him.

Tanya - 
Please accept our deepest condolences on your loss.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.  
Gerrard, Mike & Clara

My Dearest and Best Friend Kiki and your wonderful Sons Jamie jr and Ricky,
This is the most painful condolence I have ever had to write!  Many times since I received your so incredibly sad message that your Beloved Special husband and father had just passed, I have sat down to put pen to paper and so many incredible memories of our lives together and then emotions come flooding in.  There are truly no words to express the sorrow and grief that I feel at the loss of such an amazing man, husband, father and friend.  But mostly the pain in my heart that I feel for you, Jamie and Ricky having to endure losing your much loved husband and father James.  
I remember when we were teens and you told me you had met James at the Globe and there was something oh so special about him.  Well you were so right!  There was and is something so very special about him and he felt the same about you.  Jamie(James) told me many times through the years that when he met you he just knew that you were the one he was going to marry and marry you, Kiki, he did!  Together you created the most loving, wonderful adventure of a lifetime together as husband and wife.  I have never in my life been witness to any other couple who shared and demonstrated such a deep love and respect for each other as you and Jamie did (and I am blessed to know lots of wonderful happily married couples).  Jamie's love for you, Kiki, and his two amazing sons, Jamie jr and Ricky, was and is limitless.  For me it was such an honour to witness your amazing loving marriage and family as you moved through the dance of life through all these years and you and Jamie had such an eloquent dance.  On a side note, it so warms my heart to have watched you and Jamie dance at Leslie's wedding this past October.  It will be forever tucked away my heart.  Through all the ups and downs you two just loved each other more!  Kiki, you and Jamie were such an example to those around you on how true love and marriage are supposed to be and to never give up loving each other.  Jamie and Kiki, you taught me so much about life and were the most incredible role models to my daughters, Bonnie and Leslie.  My girls's most fondest memories of Jamie were when he would pick them up and carry them around and make his trademark elephant squeak when he touched their nose or when they squeezed his.  It never got old and Sydney, my almost 13 year old Granddaughter, and Dani, my 2 1/2 year old Granddaughter, were also Blessed with Jamie's squeak.  Bonnie and Leslie always felt loved and treasured by Jamie and still by you, Kiki, and he was their Uncle Jamie.  He was the very best Father figure I could ever hope for for my girls.  He showed them how special they were and worthy.  Jamie also treasured and loved Sydney and my Granddaughter is so Blessed to have had her Uncle Jamie in her life for almost 13 years.  I am so thankful that we were able to spend some time at the cottage together with Dani as well so she could experience the wonder and love of Uncle Jamie in her young life.  I am so sad that my soon to be born Granddaughter to Leslie and Jeremy will not get to know her Uncle Jamie, but we will surely share his memory with her.  Jamie jr and Ricky,  I so love you guys!  I am so very sorry that you have lost your incredible, loving father way to soon.  There was nothing more important in your Dad's life than you two and your Mom.  He truly Blessed you with a life full of love and adventure and he taught you well, as demonstrated by the awesome, loving, incredible young men you have grown up to be.  I am so honoured to be called your Auntie Heather!  Your Dad was so proud of the both of you and he just shone when he spoke of you.  Your Dad lived and breathed for you two and your Mom and my heart just breaks for you, Kiki, Jamie jr and Ricky, at the loss of such a dear special husband and father.  
I have seen Jamie at his best and I have seen him at his worst and believe me when I say that even at his worst it was still better than most other good men's best!  Jamie was always a gentleman, respectful, kind, loving, caring and always willing to lend a hand or an ear.  He always made you feel welcome and special and when Kiki and I were together he certainly had a lot to contend with in dealing with two Strong Woman.  He would give us time together, cater to us so eloquently and serve us whatever we desired with a smile on his face.  He even did all the dishes!  Memories of our times together at the cottage or outings with the kids are beautifully woven into the fabric of my life as they are in other's lives as well.  The times spent hiking, canoeing, out-paddling a bear, sailing and dumping the sailboat, waterskiing and tubing, fixing the dock, bonfires with Jamie on his guitar, fighting the black flies hooking up the water, or the Best one of Jamie walking off the end of the dock into the water while admiring the stars at night holding a bucket in his fireman red long Johns.  He was fetching water for his beloved Kiki when he fell in and didn't lose the bucket or his glasses.  I roar with laughter every time I hear Jamie tell his version of the story and my he could certainly tell a story.  My heart smiles when I remember Jamie telling this story and many others.  
I love you Jamie, forever and always and as I promised you last Summer when we were sitting on the beach at the cottage, I will always be there for Kiki and your boys.  I will help see them through their terrible loss of you, Jamie, their dearly loved husband and father.  Their memories of your undying love for them and their undying love for you will see them through.
Rest In Peace my dear and beloved friend.
Till we meet again!
Love forever and always, 
Heather, Bonnie, Leslie, Sydney and Dani.

I was so sad to hear this news....I had the pleasure of knowing him and his family for the past 18years... his smile would light up a room and coming into the dental office most people would not have had such a cheery look on their face. His stories were always such a pleasure to hear. My heart goes out to you guys... we will all miss him dearly xoxoxo love elise

It was a delight to work with such an informed, dependable, gentle man. To think of Jim lo these many years later is to smile. My heartfelt condolences to his family.

- Joan Danard

My dearest niece Tatjana, and my grandnephews Jamie and Rickie,

You are my newly found family and l grieve with you the death of your husband and father.

In the short time that I knew James, he was indeed a very special man. I treasure the shared days we had in Grand Cayman with our rum cocktail rituals at ocean's edge watching the sunsets.

With every sunset I will remember James.

My deepest sympathies to Tanya and the Christie family on the passing of James. He was a huge influence on my career back in the 90's and early 2000's through the Olympics and he afforded me many opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Many things he taught me have been with me for a lifetime now. The single biggest memory I have of James was that he was a man of high integrity and was a true mentor for me.


Dear Tanya, James & Ricky,
James was an instrumental part of our son Andrew's formative years, a soothing contrast to my overly anxious mothering. For this alone, Mitch, Andrew and I will never forget him.

Auntie Kiki, Jamie and Ricky,

Words can't even express the sadness in our hearts for the loss of our beloved Uncle Jamie, and the heartache we feel for the loss of a husband and father for the 3 of you.  There are so many memories over the past 33+ years of my life and the profound impact of having you as family.  Auntie Kiki and Uncle Jamie, you share a love that you find in fairy tales and it's one that has been beautiful to experience and completely inspiring.   Your incredible sons are proof of the amazing people you are.  Uncle Jamie was a gem among men and from his special uncle Jamie sounds' where he would get us to pinch his nose and he'd make elephant noises causing endless giggles, to lifelong memories of fun and laughter at the cottage, to his incredible big hugs and loving words, he always made sure that we knew we are loved, as do you.   We wish that we weren't so far so we could have spent more time, but you're always in our hearts.  He will not be forgotten and forever will be loved and missed.  

All our love,
Bonnie, Sydney and Danielle xoxo

Dearest Tanya & family,
We send you our deepest condolences to you...James was such a kind loving man that we were so honoured to meet.
May he RIP and may your memories keep his spirit alive in each of you! Praying for your strength...One day at a time...
XOXO


It hurts to hear this news. Remembering Jim as one of my all-time favourite colleagues. 
The walking-encyclopedia part is true - but I treasured his quick wit and imperturbable calm even more.
Jim was a terrific writer, a lovely Olympic flat-mate, and a gentleman. 
Tanya, James, and Ricky, I am so sorry for your loss.

To our dear childhood friend Kiki and sons James and Ricky, all we can offer at this time are our condolences and prayers.  From the time that you met, Jamie was welcomed by your mother Halina's friends as a special person who captured your heart, and ours too, as we came to know him and appreciate his talents and caring nature. You were truly blessed to have had such a loving husband and father and may you cherish the memories of all the good times that you had together.   
Niunia (Elizabeth Rogacki) and my brother Andrzej Kowalczewski

Tanya sorry for your loss of your love one. May the love of the memories brings you peace. 

Lydia Tsui (Zenia, Jocelyn and Matthew)

Dear Tanya James and Ricky
So sorry to hear of James' passing.  We remember him particularly during his talks to the youth at 14th Willowdale.  His stories of coverage of the Olympics captivated the attention of every beaver, cub, scout and parent that listened to his talks.  May your memories of Jim comfort you in the coming days and months. 
Pam and Mike Budge and family

It was with a deep sense of sadness and personal loss that we learned of James

Dear Tanya, Jamie and Ricky, please accept my deepest condolences. May you find comfort in loving memories.

Slawa Szantyr

Dear Tanya, Jamie and Ricky, please accept our condolences, James will not be forgotten. He will always be in our prayers. A person that departs from this earth never truly leaves, for they are still alive in our hearts and minds, through us, they live on.

Marzena and Patrick

This is my favourite Jim memory. In a weak moment, when my daughter was in Grade 6, I agreed to let her teacher bring his entire class to The Globe for a field trip. What was I thinking? There was nothing to see except people in a bunker-like room banging away on computers. The presses did not run any more and the most crusty, colourful characters were outside smoking. Nothing in the cafeteria appealed to the kids. My colleague Jim come across our disastrous field trip, took pity on us, and invited the class to the sports section where he enthralled them, all of them, with anecdotes of their favourite sports heroes. He got the photo department involved and each child left with a picture. He was on deadline, like everyone else, yet took a precious hour out of his day to interact with a marvelous teacher and his students. I can't recall what either of us ended up filing that day after so much lost time, but I do remember marvelling at the elegance of Jim's story the next day. He was a gem.

Very sorry to hear about James' passing and heartfelt thoughts to Tanya and her family.
Janet Clewes Alan, Peter, Sarah and Emily Lawrason

To the Christie family:  I'm a former journalist who had the privilege of meeting James only a few times.  The biggest of those occasions was the 1985 world hockey championship, where we were among the few who saw one of the most monumental upsets in hockey history.  I saw James only a few times after that but he was always the same friendly professional.  I also immensely enjoyed his writing over the years.  I know this is a big loss for you and those who knew James far better than me.  My condolences to everyone.

Tanya and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Jim for over 20 years, beginning in the 1980s while I was a sports reporter. He was kind, empathetic, and fair. He was fun to be around. At the dozen or so Olympics I covered, Jim amazed me with his memory for facts and stats. When something weird or untoward happened, he'd roll his eyes and say, "Well, you don't see that every day". 
You don't see people like Jim every day, either. He was a wonderful person.

James wrote a front page feature in the Globe on my wife Canada's "Mighty Mouse" Elaine Tanner Olympic Swimmer. James also interviewed myself for that article i am Elaine's husband  John Watt.  I just shared sadly the Notice of his passing to her this morning. We both reflected back decades ago first meeting and remembered Jim as a very thoughtful compassionate listener. Being a deeply personal story we both trusted Jim for his fairness and his integrity, something that is truly missed in Journalism these days.  As the notice stated "James was a rare and special man" we agree.  
John Watt and Elaine Tanner OC

Through our days covering the high school beat followed by the Maple Leafs beat I thoroughly enjoyed every moment with Jim. Great sense of humour and exceptional writer ... of the enormous amount of memories I've had in may career among them are the countless times Jim, Frank Orr and I would meet for dinner at some exceptional restaurant on the NHL circuit. Our meagre per diems never impeded our ability to spend whatever it took to savour a terrific meal amid many a laugh at all the stories. Rest in peace, Jim.
John Iaboni
Toronto

James Christie was (and forever will be) my uncle. Without a doubt, he was so classy and sincere. SO so so caring. He exuded warmth. It is accurate to say that he was a wonderful, special, talented, caring man and nothing short of incredible. There is NOTHING in this world that he loved more fiercely than my aunty Tanya and cousins James and Ricky. God, I'm going to miss him. He has such a huge place in my heart.

Jamie and Ricky,

Your Clear Lake family would be deeply grateful if you would carry the best of your father forward; that's about a tonne of goodness each though, I'm afraid.  We understand that he demonstrated his renowned compassion and class even in his last moments, sparingly surrounded by you all.  Thank heavens your mother is so much like him; you will carry each other with us admiring proudly, as always.

Love,
Michael, Theresa, Liam and Ronan Cooper
Wellington, NZ

So many memories, for which I am grateful. And such terrible grief, for the memories we can no longer make. 

Kiki (Tanya) has been my best friend from the day she was born, and through her, Jamie became the brother I never had, a brother I loved very much and will miss deeply.  

Always a gentleman, Jamie had a wit and disposition that would make even the grumpiest person smile. His intelligence, insight, and even temper set the tone in any situation. 

Though successful in his career, Jamie was invariably modest, except when it came to Kiki or his boys, Jamie Jr. and Ricky. Then he became effusive with praise.  His one true love was Kiki. From the day he first saw her, and throughout 40 years of marriage, Kiki and Jamie loved, played, laughed, and cried together and above all, they supported and anchored each other.

Those of us who knew him will never forget Jamie's ready smile and welcoming hug, his generosity of spirit and his deep concern for the welfare of others. Together with Kiki, Jamie cared for his Baba and later, for Kiki's mother, Halina. They opened their hearts and their home to many people in need, helping new immigrants who wanted a better life and others who struggled in life. 

I will never forget the sight of the 20 foot Christmas tree rising two stories through their house each year. Or waterskiing, playing cards, dancing, sharing stories, and listening to the cry of loons at the cottage.  

Kiki, Jamie Jr., and Ricky - Together with Fiorigio, who cherishes the privilege of having called Jamie his friend for the last 20 years, we share your sorrow on his loss, and celebrate the joy of having been a part of his life. 

Krysia and Fiorigio

Dear Tanya, James and Ricky;

Please accept my heartfelt condolences on Jim's passing.  I was fortunate to work with Jim on many Olympic Games through my role with the Canadian Olympic Committee media relations team.  Jim was competitive, like all journalists hungry for the story.....but he was also someone who would mentor his less experienced colleagues and peers.  He was generous, fun, smart, inquisitive and someone I am proud to call my friend.  He will be greatly missed on the Canadian sport scene, but I am sure missed even more at home.  My thoughts are will all of you.

Dear Tanya, 
You and I met on the Best of Britain trip and I have always remembered how you spoke so lovingly of your Jim at The Globe. You said you saw a rainbow over his head when you met in the newsroom. Joy and rapture flowed from you.

Absolutely shocked to learn of Jim's passing. Unfortunately I will be out of the country at the time of his memorial service. However, I will definitely be thinking of the many games, often -boring press conferences and other events we covered together as well as the dinners, drinks and laughs we shared as competing sportswriters. My condolences to you and your family.

Rick Matsumoto

I am shocked and saddened to learn of Jim's passing. I first met him at the 1976 Olympic Games and valued every contact we had until his retirement from the Globe. As well as being an excellent journalist, he was always approachable, warm, caring, and helpful. He will be greatly missed. 

Dear Kiki, Jamie Jr. & Ricky,

I will never forget James' kindness & sincerity. I will always remember all the good times with Ciocia Hala & Baba & the cottage & water skiing & bon fires. James was a beautiful, good hearted & very sincere human being.
Our family sends deepest & sincerest condolences for your loss.

Dear Tanya, Jamie and Ricky,

I and the Jamieson family are deeply saddened by James' passing. The love that your whole family extended to ours is both endearing and enduring.  That I did not know my cousin in our youth was so quickly replaced by an offer of belonging the emanated from James' soulful eyes and meaningful embrace. I did not know him much as that elegant and skilled sports reporter, but rather as a dignified reporter on the human condition with sage understanding and effervescent wonder of world culture. The James Notes version of events easily surpassed anything that could be gleaned from Coles Notes and carried rapture for humanity that is rarely matched. We wish you all peaceful and charmed reverie of this life well-lived and well-loved. Let me paint a picture for your soul to capture  You can take it with you when you go  It will be composed of many different colours  Subtle tints and shades never seen before.

Our deepest love to you  The Jamieson family

Dear Tanya, James and Ricky,
I am so sorry for your loss. But this loss is felt keenly by all of us who were lucky enough to know Jim and privileged enough to work with him. Over more than 30 years, Jim was kind, generous, funny and wise, just the best colleague and friend to have.
I will never forget meeting Jim nearly 40 years ago when he came to Calgary on a road trip with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Three-fourths of the Calgary Flames beat writers were three of the rawest rookies ever: me, Steve Simmons and Eric Duhatschek. Jim was all of three years older than me but we were all in awe because he was a big-shot Toronto hockey writer. However, Jim could not have been more down-to-earth and helpful. Best of all, he treated us as equals. I never forgot that and always tried to do the same (maybe not as diligently as Jim).

I met Jim a few times when I worked with Olympic athletes and several of Canada's national sports organization's. I'll always remember how friendly James was and how much he really cared about Canada and our great athletes. A tremendous legacy and memories that will last forever...Howard Bloom (Ottawa)

I was supposed to be the experienced sports writer - the Leafs were my beat - and Jim the kid when we both were assigned to cover a track meet, perhaps in 19701 or 1971: I'll never forget how lost I was, and how Jim knew everybody and everything: he generously helped me stumble upon a story while he did the work of covering the races that required real expertise.

I was one of the lucky people. I traveled the world with Jim. We did Italy, Switzerland, Spain, France, and so many other countries together. We laughed so much, ate so well, drank too much, and did silly things on occasion, like taking photographs of each other in clothing while standing in the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome. I was huge fan of his, personally and professionally: He was so easy to be around, and while we were in a competitive situation, it almost felt at times as though we worked together. Jim had a wonderful touch, a lovely way with words and an easy style to read, which made him perfectly suited for the Globe. A lot of us were envious of the way words came to him with such ease. Since his passing, a string of emails has gone across Canada, from his friends, from colleagues, from those who just knew him, all of them expressing their sadness. Jim was such a good, fun man. So many of us are missing him way too soon.





James gave us wonderful cottage memories. A much loved and admired gentleman! Dear Tanya, Jamie and Ricky, be assured that he will forever be in our hearts and his spirit will be profoundly felt at Clear Lake.
                                                        With love,
                                                        The Cooper Family

Dear Tanya and family,
I was a long-time fan of James Christie long before we had a chance to work together on some Olympics-related stories in the early 2000s for the Globe and Mail. Our collaboration (James in the sports department and me in the City Hall bureau) gave me an opportunity to work with the reporter and, as important, a great pleasure to know the man. Generous and collaborative as a reporter  we both loved the thrill of the chase as in this story:
https://sec.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawas-support-for-to-bid-revealed/article1022672/
Getting it right and getting it first: what better combination!
What I appreciated about James, the reporter, was that he never lost his enthusiasm for finding the people (and humanity) in a story. It would be easy, for some, to become cynical, hard-bitten, jaded. Not James. And I think it was his genuine interest in people and what happened to them that made him such a memorable writer and reporter.
But I also got to know the man who possessed a warm sense of humour and an always-collegial outlook. For that, I felt even more lucky. We stayed in touch even though we had few chances to work together again.
I am sorry you and your family have lost him. But oh how lucky I was  and so many of us were  to have him as a friend, colleague and, not least, a sterling reporter.
I send you big hugs in his honour.
Regards,
Jennifer Lewington, Stratford, Ontario

Dear Tanya, James and Ricky, 
Our thoughts are with all of you and we hope that your memories of happy family times will give you some solace.

Tanya, James and Rick, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. 

Debbie, Dave, Andrew and Owen Wright

On my first day in the Globe sports department in 1969, Eddie Waring took me aside, pointed to a young fellow taking high school football scores over the phone, and said: Watch that kid; he's going to be a big part of this place some day.  The kid was Jim Christie, and Waring had it right. Jim became a mainstay of the Globe, a reporter and columnist par excellence and a congenial presence in the sports room for decades. He was a consummate professional, a  true gentleman and, I'm proud to say, a  good friend.

Tanya, Ricky and family,
Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.  May you find peace and solitude as time passes.
Dave, Kim, Tim, and Dylan Giles

Jim was just one of those special people one meets in the crazy journalism biz who left an indelible mark: for decency, skill, knowledge, calmness, kindness to reporters finding their way, compassion and above all, humanity. Such sad news. Such a lovely human being. Jim always had everything in perspective, well before anyone else figured it out. Just the best!

Dearest Kiki, Jamie & Ricky,  
On behalf of William, Jonathan, their families and Don and myself, I want to extend my deepest condolences.  Your loss is huge, and those of us who had the honour of knowing James have come to the realization that our lives are much emptier than they were.  For the 41 years that I've known James, no matter how much time had elapsed between visits there was always that smile, the big hug, the genuine interest in our lives and the joy in sharing his knowledge, intellect and curiosity with others.  He will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.  As you go forward, holding him in your memories, please know that we hold all of you in our hearts.
Hugs and kisses.
Kay, Don, William, Debbie, Jonathan, Colleen, India & Freya.

Jim was among the first folk to welcome me to the Globe, and his support, generosity, humour and interest was a constant in the years our paths crossed from there, no matter whom we were representing. Rest In Peace Jim

Tanya and family
On behalf of my family and all of our athletes i send our thoughts and prayers to you 
James was truly one of a kind and i will miss him but always remember the kindness he showed to me 
greg butrey

Jim welcomed me into the business world of sport and taught me ever so much.  He was always true to his word and a brilliant writer.   You were a special person with a gentle smile.

A good man who loved to spend time at Goulding Park arena watching his son Ricky play in net for the 93 Select team.
We will miss your smile.
All of our respect and condolences to the family and friends

I'm saddened to hear of the passing of someone I knew since the early/mid 70s, going back to the latter days when The Globe and Mail occupied space in a building at King and York in downtown Toronto. 
Originally, we worked on high school sports and often exchanged humorous stories about the kids who phoned in the sports scores to us. Jim was also the rewrite man on Friday evenings and, when he had to leave early one evening, I filled in for him and he gave me a quick lesson on how to keep the large roll of paper at the back of the old Underwood typewriter loose.
Obviously I wasn't nearly as adept as Jim on the rewrite desk; I was never asked to do the job again.
Besides being an excellent writer, one who could cover just about any sport, he was a decent human being and with a wonderful sense of humour; we've lost a great person and all too soon.
Rest in Peace my friend.

Jim had a rare gift for storytelling but more remarkable was his never-ending positivity, his kindness, his warm smile. Rest In Peace Jim. You lived a special life.

An amazing wordsmith, a fine gentleman and a strong family man. He was an anchor in the sports department for many years, known for his versatility and quality of writing. It was a pleasure working with Jim at the Globe. He will be missed.

Jims impact in crafting the stories that mattered sparking interest in the Canadian public was exceptional.  He happened to be an incredible person as well. Personally,  I will always remember his patience and support as a young person starting my career in sport.  I can remember him working many Olympic Games late nights working to feverish deadlines!!   He will always part  of my fondest career memories.   Lorraine Lafreniere  Ottawa 

I worked in the Globe and Mail sports department for nine years, and spent more time with Jim and Joan Astley than anyone else at the newspaper. Jim was a consummate professional who could write beautifully on any topic and was a vast wealth of information around the Olympics. More important, he was a wonderful person and I will always treasure the conversations and laughter shared with Jim. My sincerest condolences to Tanya and to her sons on losing a husband and father.

Jim you were one of the good guys. We worked together at the Globe and Mail and shared lots of laughs covering World Cups and Olympics. Always a gentleman. You will be missed. 
Jim Christie - Wordsmith, friend. RIP

Jim was the consummate pro. If you asked for help, he was there - ready and able to offer assistance in any way. And write? Jim was the gold standard of writing a lede and catching your interest. Those who knew him well will miss him terribly.

In working with Jim for more than three decades at The Globe and Mail I can tell you there has rarely been anyone here who could write a lede as well as him. Or as fast, or as thorough, on deadline. He was encyclopedic; could cover any event; and did so uncomplainingly. And not just sports. Fabulous and fast sense of humour. A true gentleman and mentor to many. My deepest condolences to Tanya and family on the loss of a giant of a man. Everyone he ever touched at The Globe mourns with you. Phil King/Toronto

OBITUARIO

James Richard Christie

8 noviembre, 1952 – 27 enero, 2018

Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes

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