James "Jim" Anthony Blackie

James "Jim" Anthony Blackie, died on October 30, 2023, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Surrounded by family, he knew and felt love until the very end.

Jim was a kind, generous, and compassionate soul and will be missed and remembered by many. He had an innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge. He loved to cook for family and friends, and his charcoal, BBQing, homemade pizzas, and lasagna were second to none! He loved the outdoors, including gardening, hunting and fishing. In particular, Jim was a skilled and knowledgeable prospector and loved spending time in many of Cape Breton's rivers and streams, panning for precious stones and gold, having never once been fooled by fools’ gold!

He loved his three daughters, Rachel (Andrew), Katie (Kyle), and Rebecca (Jake); his two granddaughters, Zoey and Charlotte, the light of his eyes; and Diane Toomey, the mother of his children.

Jim, like the rest of us, was not perfect, but he had a strong moral compass and strived to live a good life. He firmly believed in being true to your word, standing up for yourself, defending those who cannot defend themselves, always lending a helping hand, and always being kind but never a pushover. He instilled these values in his daughters and was immensely proud of the women they are today.

He was born at home in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, on March 6, 1952, to Wilena "Lee" (Lynk) and Walter. Jim spent much of his life in Sydney Mines and was a skilled draftsman and later an entrepreneur, going on to open his own store, J&J Dairy.

His memory lives on with his daughters, granddaughters, and the mother of his children; his brothers, Charlie (Theresa) and Dave (Debbie, passed on), and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins; his many special friends, including those from his apartment building on Pitt Street, Florence; the many kids who grew up in the Fraser Avenue/Forest Street neighborhood; and the many customers who came and went from J&J Dairy throughout the years.

Many thanks to the staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, especially the ICU staff and, in particular, Nurse Andrew Reynolds.

We invite all those wishing to honor, celebrate, and remember Jim to join our family at Duke's Place Pub and Grill, 1 Pitt Street, Sydney Mines, on Friday, November 3, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Jim firmly believed that it matters how well you live, not how long