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.
Livre de visiteurs
Ralph Pentland
John Elder
I was fortunate to curl with Tim for many years. The first time we curled together was a Christmas bonspiel. Our teammates were 2 older gentlemen so Tim and I swept their rocks, even though Tim was the skip. I took a bad fall while sweeping one rock together, though I wasn't hurt. After making sure I was okay, Tim's comment was that he was impressed that I managed to fall without touching the rock and spoiling the shot--evidence of his wry sense of humour. All of us at the RA Curling Club will miss Tim very much.
Bruce Amos
Tim was a good friend and colleague valued for his wry sense of humour and for his many contributions to Parks Canada, notably Prairie and Northern region planning, new parks establishment and the Parks Canada Agency legislation. In the office we were always on high alert on April 1st, watching out for Tim's annual prank. Despite this, he usually managed to fool us. Tim was a colleague you could always count on and a friend whose company I always enjoyed. My condolences to Laura, Luke and Carey and your extended family. Know that Tim was loved and appreciated by his many work colleagues at Parks Canada.
Barbara Jesson
I remember most those twinkling black eyes and the grin always lurking after some major teasing. I do recall one particular adventure at a fishing camp in Northern Ontario that Tim and Laura ran just after they were married. Ousted at the crack of dawn I had my first and only lesson in putting worms on a hook. UGH. But the fish fry later was out of this world!
Jack Mason
Hello Laura. I haven't seen you for years but please accept my condolences at this very sad time in your life. Thinking of you and your family. Jack
Michael Scully
Tim was a lovable character and we will miss him greatly. I played golf with Tim for many years at Greyhawk, at least very Saturday. You could never tell what mischief he might be planning; when bending down to line up a putt, I always had to be careful if Tim was behind me as his putter had a habit of reconnoitering my back side.
Elizabeth Seale
I am writing for myself and for my late husband, Ron Seale, when I say that Tim will be hugely missed. A lively, generous, funny (and handsome) man like Tim should have lived to be 150 years old. I will give you the perspective that Lorretta Gamble gave me when Ron died: "Men like that do not die; they live on in everyone's memory. Ron has been waiting 22 years for Tim to join him so that they can continue to get up to mischief and tell tall tales together."
Gerry Cloutier
I had the honour and privelege of working with Tim in Cornwall on the old Ontario Region Exec. committee. There was no stronger proponent of Parks values. Always a positive contributer.
My deepest condolences to friends and family.
Janet Dodds
Tim was pretty special to many, myself included. I met him through my one and only brother in law, Murray who was a former colleague at Parks. Murray and Di would often include me at dinners at their place with Tim and Laura. Tim and Laura must have liked me as I got to dine with THEM at their home. Never forget (on our first meeting) with Tim correcting me on my pronunciation of Worcestershire Sauce. At the same gathering I told Tim and Laura (me just back from our cottage in PEI) how much fun it was to shop at Zellers on the Summerside waterfront (now gone) especially in the womens, underwear dept. Tim was all ears, even had a question or too. Yup, quite a guy, very accomplished, MUCH loved by many so sorry for your loss. Will miss him greatly at McComb gatherings where he and Laura were always included if they were free to join.
Hope you get through this difficult time knowing that there were SO MANY people who loved Tim, he was really special and touched many lives.
Janet (Dodds)
Jude and Perc Blythman
Our hearts are very sad for you Laura...Luke and Carey and your families...there is never enough time in this life but aren't we grateful for all the laughter and that your precious Tim knew how much he was loved...appreciated and admired. Our friendship goes back 40 years plus and the memories of picnics at Fort Walsh....curling bonspiels together...the bond Scott and Luke created and so much more are still vivid and always cherished. I have spent a lot of time this week playing ABBA music..smiling and shedding tears too. Perc and I hope you feel our hugs and hope you know we care deeply. One day at a time is all you can do and we promise one day you will smile more because that fun loving angel will want you to.
I have many fond memories of curling with times for 15 years. He was a great teammate and friend; and a tireless leader in training new curlers