February 2 3, 1957 - November 3, 2 0 2 3
The loving family of John Allen Jackson is sad to announce his sudden and untimely passing at home on November 3 , 2 02 3 in Barrie, Ontario at the age of 6 6 years.
John was born in Olds, Alberta and was the oldest child of Edwin ( Sam) and Dolores Jackson. John grew up on the farm west of Olds in the Westerdale district. He attended school in both Olds and Didsbury and graduated from Didsbury High School in 19 7 5 . He then attended SAIT in Calgary and completed a Broadcasting/Journalism course. John then worked as editor for the Didsbury Booster newspaper and then went on to work as a radio broadcaster in Red Deer and St. Paul.
He went on a farm work exchange to Denmark and afterwards travelled extensively throughout Europe. Upon his return to Alberta, he attended the University of Calgary where, with warp speed he graduated with a B.A, B.Ed in 19 8 4 . He later obtained post-graduate degrees from the University of Toronto including an M.Ed, ( OISE) and various designations in ESL, Special Ed, and Adult Education. He was an ardent educator and taught at numerous locations which included teaching in Olds, Carstairs, Cremona as well as Lakeland College in Bonnyville, Alberta, and with the former City of York Board of Education ( now TDSB) . Of great pride was his tenure as an Instructor at Blue Quills in St. Paul, Alberta, the first residence and school controlled by Indigenous People in Canada. John also taught in India where he similarly positively influenced the lives and careers of his students at the CIIS, Chandīgarh. He recently retired from his 2 5-year-long career with Georgian College where he was a Professor in the Automotive Business School of Canada and made an indelible, positive impact through his significant involvement and teaching within the Automotive programs.
John enjoyed learning about other cultures and travelled extensively over the years. He enjoyed playing hockey, baseball, curling and more recently, pickleball.
John was predeceased by his sister, Connie Mae. He is Survived by his parents, Sam and Delores Jackson, his son, Edwin (Victoria) Jackson and his grandson, Landon, his brother Wyatt Jackson and his sister, Paula (Keith) Klinck, and nephews, Ryan, Alan (Jessie) and Rodger Klinck and niece, Laura Klinck, as well as a large extended family. There will be a Celebration of Life held soon in Mississauga, Ontario as well as in Olds which will be annonced at a later date.
