Jim MacDonald, the founding chairperson of the Canadian Health Coalition passed away July 5 at age 91. MacDonald organized the first S.O.S. Medicare Conference in 1979 which led to the formation of the Canadian Health Coalition. “We fondly remember Jim’s Cape Breton wit and his visits in his retirement years to the CHC office,” the CHC said in a communiqué today. MacDonald has also served for many years as coordinator of Social and Community Programs for the Canadian Labour Congress. In 2007 he was given the “Spirit of Tommy Douglas Award” from the Douglas family during S.O.S. Medicare II in Regina.
Jim MacDonald (far right) with Tommy Douglas and Justice Emmet Hall in 1979.
OPSEU Diablogue 
Thanks for the great job you have done for this great country Jim MacDonald.
I also thank OPSEU for helping me in the past.