The Jim Blackman Memorial Award is a $1000.00 cash award to a student who is intending to pursue post-secondary education. The candidate must possess the following attributes: service & citizenship, leadership, interest and participation in outdoor activities, and perseverance.

Letter from his sister – Ruth Mackellar:
I had a wonderful brother. He was five years older than me, my childhood protector and my hero. When he was my young my parents couldn’t quite understand why this seemingly bright child found reading and writing so difficult. As a result of his struggles in the regular school system they sent him, at age thirteen, to a school that concentrated on leadership and outdoor activities, instead of focusing on purely academic achievement. In this new environment, my brother excelled and began to develop strategies to deal with his recently diagnosed dyslexia. Jim developed a passion for rock climbing, mountaineering, and kayaking and started to develop his leadership skills.
As his confidence increased so academic success came. The child who could neither read not write in the early years of school ended up with two degrees, one the highest level of degree awarded in the U.K. Jim was a man of conviction, passion, great integrity and possessed an alternate view of the world. He valued his community and strove for the good of others. His quiet authority and wicked sense of humour made him a natural leader. A child, who his early teachers and thought in educable became a man capable of deep intellectual thought.

This wonderful man was taken from us last November. I believe strongly that such tragedies need to be turned into opportunities. I know my brother would be thrilled that his memorial would give a young person with the attributes the displayed the chance to follow their dreams as he had followed his.

The Jim Blackman Award recipient must provide proof of registration in post-secondary education within one year of completing high school.

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