June 4, 1940 - October 26, 2023

In loving memory ~

James C Slater was born in Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia on 4 June 1940.

He was the middle child of James and Florence Slater. At the age of 2, he moved with his family to Wilmot in the Annapolis Valley where his father was involved with the completion of RCAF Greenwood. His school years were in Kingston and Middleton Schools and he enrolled in Acadia University at the age of sixteen. But after three years, his love for flying became too much and he was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Radio Operator.

His first posting was Comox where he met and married Margaret Burns and his two children were born. In January 1969 with the restructuring of maritime aircrew he moved his family first to Winnipeg where he crossed trained to Navigator and then to Prince Edward Island. Following postings to London, Ontario, to 407 Demons at Comox and training squadron in Greenwood, NS, he returned to Comox to retire in 1986. He then joined the reserves with 19 Wing OPS from Aug 1988 to Jun 1995.

During his last years in the military, Jim completed his dream of becoming a private pilot, then Commercial license, Float Plane license, Instructor and MOT Examiner. In October 1996, he started his own Courtenay Flight Center and happily introduced anyone who would listen to flying. His flight center was awarded RCAC Power Course from 2000 to 2009. Jim was an avid supporter and member of the Courtenay Air Park Association.

Sadly, Jim lost his flying medical due to a MVA and he had to dissolve his flight school and officially retire from flying.

On 26th October 2023 following a three-year battle with cancer, Jim took his final flight and is happily doing spins, steep turns and touch and go's in "The Air up There"

James is predeceased by his father James C. Slater, his mother Florence Planetta. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 60 years Margaret, his daughter Catherine, his son James, his brother Fred, and his sister Sondra.

A special thank you to Dr. Jonathan Reggler for the medical care and support to Jim and his family.

There will not be a funeral at this time and the family asks that you send condolences and/or pictures to www.piercysmtwashingtonfuneral.com