Jim Donaldson

The late Jim Donaldson, BSc 52, a native of Revelstoke, B.C., grew up in Montreal, attended Loyola High School and then Loyola College. After graduating, he spent five years in various sales positions but decided to pursue his dream of becoming an architect. He entered McGill University and earned his architecture degree in 1962.

Jim’s first position as an architect was with ARCOP, a creative and award-winning Montreal firm. Following a two-year internship, Jim and two fellow architects founded Donaldson, Drummond and Sankey. The firm went on to considerable success and worked on many public and private projects, including two buildings at Expo 67.

In the early ’70s, Jim became the director of Facilities and Properties for Air Canada, where he was responsible for design and construction of the airline’s properties worldwide.

In 1987, Jim was elected a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Following early retirement from Air Canada in the mid ’90s Jim continued on projects, including a two-year stint with Star Alliance, and was Air Canada’s representative during the construction of the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

For several years, he was president of the St. Patrick’s Foundation Board and continued to be a member of several building committees, notably for Loyola High School’s expansion in 1991. He was also a member of St. Mary’s Hospital Campus Planning Committee.

Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Loyola Alumni Association for many years and was the Association’s president for four years. He was also a member of the Fundraising Committee of the Loyola Refectory Restoration project. Jim’s wife, Marianne, was a member of the Concordia Board of Governors for 12 years.