Iain James McGilveray

Iain James McGilveray passed away November 5th at St Joseph's Hospital in Toronto after a brief illness at the age of 87. He was the loving and devoted husband to Ann (d. 2010), whom he carried in his heart to his last breath. He is survived by his loving daughter Jeanie, his nephews Alan and Graeme, his niece Anne, and their families. He was predeceased by his dear brother Hugh and sister Enid.

Iain was born in Glasgow, Scotland and was educated at Shawlands Academy prior to his acceptance at the Glasgow School of Pharmacy (now Strathclyde), where he met his beloved Ann while earning his PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacology.

After completing a post-graduate NATO fellowship in Illinois he emigrated to Canada, where he worked for 33 years as a research scientist, finally serving in Health Canada's Bureau of Drug Research as both Acting Director and Chief of the Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics division. He also served as a regular advisor to both the WHO and FDA and was a fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and the Canadian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His distinguished career included service and leadership positions in a variety of other prestigious academic associations and NGOs. He contributed to more than 160 research publications and served as adjunct professor in medicine at the University of Ottawa. As Ann’s Masters degree was awarded in an area of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iain was especially proud to have written Health Canada’s first monograph on cannabis.

In addition to these professional pursuits, he was passionate about music, sang in several choirs, and was dedicated to the mission of outreach performed by the United Church of Canada.

While Iain and Ann were proud members of the Britannia Yacht Club, she would rarely step foot on their boat when captained by Iain, but would happily shout directions from the pier. Iain was only too proud to be eclipsed as a sailor by his first mate, daughter Jeanie, a stronger swimmer than her Mum. Apart from his many professional accomplishments, Iain fulfilled one role that was not of his choosing, but at which he excelled, that of chief mediator and peacemaker between the two mercurial women that defined his existence.

Known and loved for his eclectic interests and spirited debates, Iain's many passions ranged from travel to photography to rugby, which he played as a young man. Iain devoured history and politics, and was an avid reader of both, surrounded by books until his passing.

Iain's family would like to thank everyone at Lakeshore Lodge for treating Iain with kindness, compassion and dignity throughout the last year of his life.

He will be greatly missed by friends and family. A celebration of his life will be held at Woodroffe United Church (Ottawa) on Monday, May 4th. In lieu of flowers, donations to Médecins sans Frontières or the Mississauga Food Bank would be welcomed.