JOHN BALANCE SINCLAIR (JACK)

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JOHN BALANCE SINCLAIR (JACK) October 4th, 1925 May 25th, 2008 Jack Sinclair died at Health Sciences Centre suddenly, on May 25th, 2008. Jack was born on October 4, 1925 in Winnipeg to Edward and Harriet Sinclair. He lived in St. James all his life, and attended school there. Jack served in the Canadian Navy from August 1944 to May 1946, after which he returned to the Canadian Pacific Railway, where he completed his apprenticeship as a Machinist in April 1949. From the beginning of his years at the C.P.R., Jack was a dedicated union activist. He was a frequent delegate to the Winnipeg Labour Council, and also served on the executive of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 122, for many years. In 1997 he was presented by the Union with a Fifty Year Veteran award, honouring his long and faithful service. After his retirement from the C.P.R. in 1985, he retained his interest in the labour movement, and had a great fund of good stories about both the railway and the union. As much concerned with his community as with his workplace, Jack was also a tireless supporter of the NDP. He was active to the end, even attending the AGM of the St. James constituency last April. Both before and after his retirement, Jack was an avid traveller. Besides many trips to the family's ancestral home in Northern Ireland, he also made numerous trips to Russia. He journeyed to China when that country first began to open up to Western visitors, and toured Egypt, India and Cuba. At home, he enjoyed golf, and belonged to the Assiniboine Golf Club. He loved competitive shooting, and attended competitions across Canada and the States. In the summer, Jack enjoyed time at the family cottage at Victoria Beach, and after retirement spent several weeks there each year. Jack was predeceased by his parents, his brother Edward, and his sisters Anne Sinclair and Mary Colnett. He is survived by his niece Diane (Colnett) Moore and family of Sechelt, BC, his niece Nancy (Sinclair) Meyer and family of Vancouver, BC, and his nephew Russell Colnett and family of Winnipeg and Cochrane, Alberta. A memorial service will be held for Jack on Monday, June 9th, at 2:00 p.m. at Neil Bardal Inc., Portage Avenue, Aubrey Street entrance. Neil Bardal Inc. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 07, 2008