James Arthur Davidson
November 21, 1931 – June 30, 2015
Jim was born in Smithers to Percy and Phyllis Davidson, and was predeceased by his two sisters Phyllis Woodard and Margaret Davidson.
In his youth, he played goalie with the local hockey team. In his early years he worked at local sawmills and in construction but his real love was farming. In his twenties he sold a beautiful team of horses for a pair of milking cows and that marked his start in dairy farming in the Bulkley Valley.
He met Elizabeth, a nurse recently moved to the valley from Manitoba, in 1955. They married in 1956 and were together until his passing – over 59 years. Jim and Beth had eight children: Bob (Judy), Kathy, Ken (deceased), John (Emily), Paul (Alice), Gordon (deceased), Frances Taylor (Mike) and Mary and five grandchildren: Ben, Sean, Daniel, Tyler, and Jonothan.
Jim believed deeply in education, stewardship and public service and gave time to many community groups including Smithers Community Services, Happy Valley School, St. James Anglican Church, Bulkley Valley Dairymen, and the Smithers Farmers Institute. He represented local farmers as director and chair of the BC Dairy Foundation in the 80s. In the early 80s he worked with Bulkley Valley dairy farmers to build a local Dairyland milk plant.
In 1988 he ran and won the position of town alderman under the slogan “Jim Davidson – Down to Earth Policies”. He was alderman from 1988-90, councillor 93-95, 96-98, Mayor 90-93, 96, and 2002-2008 and subsequently Freeman of Smithers. He was particularly proud of his work developing a relationship with the Wet’suwet’en and establishing a partnership to create the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest. Other key projects completed included the airport runway expansion, the CN Overpass, and the building of the new town hall on Aldous Street. He enjoyed collaborating with the public in order to make his community a better place to live. He loved Smithers and the people of the Bulkley Valley.
In memory of Jim, the family requests any donations be made to the Bulkley Valley Foundation, Box 4584, Smithers, V0J 2N0, or Camp Caledonia, Box 147, Smithers, V0J 2N0, or a local charity of your choice. A memorial for Jim will be held August 21st at 2 p.m. at the Canadian Reformed Church, 2788 Viewmount Road South. Everyone that would like to attend is welcome.