PEARCE, Jimmy
Posted: February 17th, 2024
JIMMY PEARCE The family and wife of Jimmy Pearce are saddened to announce his passing on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at the age of 66 years. After a full career with HM Government Army UK, then trucking in the UK and Europe, Jimmy came to Canada in 2009 to start his life here. Jimmy was ecstatic to become a Canadian Citizen in April of 2022. Jimmy chose to give up the life of a long hauler when he met and married Karen – this was not the life upon which to build a relationship he said. His choice to drive School Bus gave him the opportunity to make the lives of so many students just that little bit better every day. As Jimmy and Karen focused their retirement lives on dragon boating (a shift from rugby for Jimmy) – their world became full of athletes of all ages and many hours at Henderson Lake. After building a training centre in their basement, there was always a succession of paddlers in and out of the house. In 2023, Jimmy attained his International Dragon Boat Federation Officials certification. Jimmy was just named to the 2025 Canadian Junior National Team coaching team (Jimmy was a Dragon Boat Canada Competitive Level Coach). To the Cruisers – He was your coach, mentor, confidante, best cheerleader and organizer of all things dragon boat! Let’s wear those jerseys with pride. To the U24’s – He had huge expectations for you all and we will carry that on to the 2025 National Team tryouts AND paddle hard locally! To the Fab 4 – He was so deeply proud of each of you. You worked SO hard to meet his planned process to get you on that team to Thailand. To the DBC Officials – He felt very privileged to be a part of this team. To the 911 operator, EMS Paramedics, Emergency at Chinook, Stars Ambulance, ICU Foothills (3) and ICU Lethbridge (Doctors/Nurses/Unit Clerks and all) – thank you for treating us with such professionalism and respect. Jimmy had the best care possible. To all of you who were a part of Jimmy’s “check on” list.. I know we will all miss those never-ending words of relentless forward motion and to those reaching out to our family and I, Bless you and please take Jimmy’s ability to make your day with you forever – and pay it forward.
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
Dear Karen and family/friends of Jimmy, I am so deeply saddened by your loss and the loss to the dragon boat community.
Jimmy was such a fixture on the docks during the practice season and at the Lethbridge festival, and I will always remember him in his neck buff and bike shorts, always with a cheery smile or a wisecrack! I can’t say I knew him well, but he felt like an old friend you see on summer vacation, or in this case during dragon boat season, tossing our ropes into our boat and wishing us a hearty good luck in a race, or welcoming us back from a hard-fought battle on the water. Jimmy also coached my girls in a youth program one summer, an experience they thoroughly enjoyed.
I have been reading about Jimmy and his dedication to and impact on those of us in the paddling community and beyond. I think it’s a testament to him that, even if you didn’t count yourself among his inner circle, he felt like part of your world. He was a bit of a legend on the lake…if you were a dragon boater, you knew Jimmy!
I’ll be thinking of Jimmy this June when we start the new season and will be grateful for all he contributed to the sport and the people who love it. He’ll be dearly missed.
May you find comfort in the love and support of the dragon boat community who grieve with you.
Sincere condolences,
Zyna Taylor, Fiat Dux/Pronghorn Paddlers