Passed away on March 3, 2021 suddenly following a brief illness. He was accompanied in his final moments by his loving wife Laura and his children Luke and Carey.
Tim will be sorely missed by his surviving family, including his sisters Jane Britton and Kate Sookocheff, their husbands David and Mark, his grandchildren Malaïka, Harper, Edie and Léo, his son-in-law Albert, his daughter-in-law Anik, his nephews Zachary, Jeremy, Sam, and Corey, his nieces Holly and Melanie, his cousins Lynn and John as well as by the other members of the family and the many friends and colleagues whose lives were touched by his. He is predeceased by his father Sam Sookocheff, his mother Doreen Sookocheff (Mitchell) and his brother Tony Sookocheff.
Tim’s professional life was dedicated to conservation of the diverse natural beauty and heritage of Canada. During his career in Parks Canada, Tim contributed to the development of Kluane, Nahanni, Auyuittuq, and Prince Albert National Parks and to the preservation of the Exchange District in Winnipeg. He was instrumental in the preparation of legislation to transform Parks Canada into a separate agency and was involved in negotiations leading to the establishment of Wapusk and other northern parks. Tim contributed to the preservation of the Chilkoot Trail and Dawson City National Historic Site as well as to planning for the York Factory and Fort Battleford sites. Tim’s early career in Parks Canada included serving as Superintendent of Fort Walsh National Historic Site near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.
Prior to joining Parks Canada, as an undergraduate field assistant Tim spent the summers of 1966 to 1969 on Baffin Island conducting research on glaciology, glacial geology and geomorphology, monitoring and measuring changes in glaciers and other ice formations.
In 1969, Tim’s curiosity and sense of adventure took him on a solo trip to Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. Over the course of his life, Tim’s love of travel was shared by his wife Laura, their children and friends as they visited many places, including Kenya, New Zealand, and Peru, in addition to much of Canada and the United States.
Tim passed on to his children and grandchildren a love of reading, a passion for history and a wry sense of humour. He shared his love of the outdoors through canoe trips into parts of the Canadian wilderness that were rarely seen by others.
He was an avid curler and golfer who will be remembered fondly by friends and team mates.
Tim was a lifelong practical joker who saw each April 1st as a fresh challenge to outwit friends and family in spite of their foreknowledge he would attempt to do so. He usually succeeded, most recently when he tricked some of his family into believing he and Laura were moving to New Zealand.
Arrangements are being made for a celebration of Tim’s life at a later date. Details and an invitation will be sent to family and friends.
Those who wish may make donations in memory of Tim to the Nature Conservancy of Canada www.natureconservancy.ca or Health Partners www.healthpartners.ca.
Digital Guestbook
Tom Kowbel
Carol Miller(Sewell)
Laura, it has been a lifetime. Please accept my sincere condolences. Your husband was the same age as Tom and their love of outdoors and canoeing struck me. Tom died in 2017....it is a tough time to comprehend. Thinking of your heartbreak and wishing you strength.
Clément Bédard
La première fois que j’ai rencontré Tim, c’était lorsque j’étais directeur de la Réserve du parc national Auyuittuq lors de sa visite où nous avons passé une semaine dans la baie de Cumberland à la recherche de sites reliés à la chasse à la baleine. Ce fut très intéressant et instructif car il connaissait très bien l’environnement du parc. J’en garde de très bons souvenirs. Quelques années plus tard, nous nous sommes revus au bureau chef à Hull. Il était toujours fidèle à lui-même, tout à fait sympathique. Mes plus sincères condoléances à toute sa famille.
Liz Williams
Dear Luke, Anik, Malaika and Léo and the whole Family, I am really sorry for your loss, especially at this strange time when all who love you would want to be with you and give you hugs! Luke reading your dad’s story it makes me see how much you take after him, not just physically! He definitely instilled in you a passion for protecting the environment, a love of nature and exploration! You can tell your dad was a very special guy and I am sure he is proud of how you (and his grandkids) follow in his footsteps. Big virtual hug to you all! Liz xx
Judy and Andy Stephaniuk
Our deepest condolences. Tim was a best friend and neighbor. Judy and I very much appreciated him looking after our home and yard when we were away. We wish that all your fond memories of Tim carry you through this difficult time and forever. God bless Tim; may he rest in peace.
Gary Lindfield
Tim was a good man taken way too soon. He was always an inspiration to me during my time at Parks Canada. My condolences to his family.
Kate Sookocheff
Tim was my eldest sibling. We did not grow up together; a 16-year age difference meant that we were always at very different stages in our lives. When I was starting Grade 1, Tim was starting his own family. However, we grew closer as adults, and I will be forever grateful for two invitations that Tim extended to me. One was to host my son Sam, 17 at the time, for two weeks in the summer of 2013. Thanks to Tim and Laura, Sam got to spend quality time getting to know his Ontario family--three generations of relatives. The other was for me to spend a week in Chicago with Tim in the summer of 2019, just a year and a half ago. We visited museums and galleries, posed in front of The Bean, rode the "L" around the Loop, took an architecture tour by boat, ascended to the top of Sears Tower (Tim's fear of heights notwithstanding), and indulged in deep-dish pizza. But the highlight, hands down, was a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, complete with Chicago hotdogs, five home runs, and a win for the home team. What an exhilarating night! Thanks, Tim, for the adventures you shared with us. I dearly wish there could be more.
Theresa Gusnowsky
So sorry to hear this news. I knew Tim from his days as Supt of Ft.Walsh. But I also briefly touched paths with Luke working for Coles Bookstores at Richmond Centre. My condolences to all the family.
Sam Salvail
I am one of Tim's nephews. Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with Tim because I live on the west coast. However, when I was a teenager, Tim generously offered to host me on a trip east to see him, Laura, and my other relatives. It was so great to spend more time with him and the family that I rarely get to see in person. I am forever grateful for those two weeks and Tim and Laura's hospitality. Although I don't think that a single memory can sum up someone's life, I think this is a good example of the person Tim was.
Doug Houghton
It's been at least 50 years since I last visited Tim and Laura in Ottawa after graduation. Tim was one of my classmates at University of Waterloo and I recall many fun Pub Nights with him and our other classmates. My condolences to Laura and family.
Doug
So sad to hear of Tim's passing. I enjoyed his company both on and off the golf course. His mischievous nature and wit were remarkable. When you missed a put , Tim used to say with his sly grin "There are two elements to a put..line and speed". The implication being that you failed miserably on one or both elements. I still use that line with others.
Tim's easy going manner and warmth endeared people to him. He will be missed and fondly remembered.
My wife Rosemary and I send Laura and family our heart felt condolences.