James Allen Rae

James Allen Rae of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada passed away unexpectedly on February 23, 2024, at the age of 56. James’ final moments were surrounded by loved ones. James was taken too soon from us but he left a lasting impact on all that had the privilege of knowing him.

A Brief History

James was born in Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver on August 20, 1967, to Lawrence and Roseanne Rae, and was a big brother to Leanne. Jamie, as he was called by his parents, spent his early years in a number of places with his family, including Ocean Falls, Kitimat, Burnaby, Oakland CA, and eventually James settled back in Vancouver.

In 1986 James began attending the University of British Columbia to study philosophy. During this time James also attended Burnaby Christian Fellowship ("BCF") where Lawrence was a pastor. James made lifelong friends at BCF and, most importantly, met Wendy Hulstein with whom, after marrying in 1993, he spent the next 30 years as a devoted husband and father to Meghan (27) and Ethan (passed in 2017 at age 18). James became a welcome, colourful addition to the Hulstein family, gaining parents-in-law Glenn and Judy, and brothers- and sisters-in-law (Mark, Derek, Laura, and John, along with their respective spouses and children who loved Uncle James); James quickly felt comfortable enough at family gatherings to find an empty couch to enjoy a well-deserved nap.

James was a trusted security systems risk and support specialist, and during his long experience in the security industry he helped many clients over the years; people whom James saw and treated more like family and friends than as mere “clients” (often at the expense of his own financial benefit).

Despite the gruff or grumpy exterior James liked to convey, he was anything but in his interpersonal relationships and, more tellingly, in his actions. James was a good neighbour and became a father figure to many of the kids and friends of Meghan and Ethan at Hillside Co-op in Burnaby where Meghan and Ethan grew up. James had a soft spot for children, also evinced by the many babies he and Wendy fostered over the years, which might have sprung in part from his parents operating a group home while James was growing up.

James was on the Hillside Co-op Board for many years helping with the myriad of issues that arose for Hillside’s operations. But, apart from that role, James simply helped out neighbours if he learned they needed help with anything as he walked the neighbourhood. James was well-read and knowledgeable and could converse on seemingly any topic (and definitely wasn’t shy to share his opinions!). For those neighbours James regularly encountered around Hillside, he made an effort to learn something about their background or history so that he could engage them in conversation.

James was a hockey dad to a young hockey-obsessed Ethan and became a tireless volunteer in the amateur hockey community. It was through Ethan’s hockey playing years at Burnaby Winter Club ("BWC") that James began volunteering at BWC. James continued to volunteer at BWC after Ethan’s untimely death as a tribute to his son. At BWC, James served as the Risk Manager for seven years, with BWC becoming a second home and extended family. James was recognized by BWC for his dedicated and valuable contribution to BWC.

James’ volunteerism in amateur hockey continued with the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association for over five years, during which time James initially held the position of Risk Manager, and then Vice President, and lastly President.

James wasn’t all work and no play. James was a motorcycle enthusiast, having taken long motorcycle trips in the past with many a story arising. However, with marriage and children, James transitioned to become a (mostly) loving pet-owner. He had a menagerie of pets (some that he adopted and some that adopted him) over the years, from a love bird ("Cheeky") that would ride on his shoulder, rabbits, cats, and dogs. But, most recently, James had a very special connection with Blue (Great Dane), and would regularly take Blue, as well as Jax (Golden-Doodle) after Jax joined the household, to Barnet Marine Park after work.

Anyone who knew James knew that he was a most loving father and husband a family could ask for. James was predeceased by his son, Ethan, and James carried the raw grief of Ethan’s death for the too-short remainder of his life. James is survived by his wife, Wendy, their daughter, Meghan, his father and mother, Lawrence and Rosanne, and his sister Leanne.

Family Thanks

Wendy and Meghan wish to thank everyone for the tremendous outpouring of kindness and support they have been receiving. They wish to have a private gathering with family only at a later date.

Lawrence, Rosanne and Leanne thank you for your love and support you have shown them, and plan to host a private celebration for the Rae family at a later date.

A general public reception is not planned but, as is discussed further below, the family does wish to receive your recollections of James and hopes this forum can serve that purpose.

Support

Many people have already reached out expressing a desire to offer support and asking what they might do for both Wendy and Meghan. We thank you for that.

As a meaningful and very practical way to provide support, for convenience a GoFundMe page in honour of James’ memory has been established for Wendy to help alleviate the financial burdens she now faces and to provide some measure of assistance for her for the times ahead (link is below).

Additionally, the biography above is but a pale shadow of James’ involvement and impact on the wide variety of people and areas of the different communities he was involved with. It would be a blessing for Wendy and Meghan, as well as for his parents Lawrence and Roseanne and his sister Leanne, if you would share below your memories, stories, funny or poignant moments or recollections of James, as well as any photos or videos you might have and wish to share.

Having such a repository would be something particularly meaningful for Wendy and Meghan to have to read and return to over time as the grief and pain subsides, and so they can see the blessing that James was to others and which they might not otherwise know. We wish it to be a celebration of James’ life. Please feel free to return and add material over time.

Thank you all again for your continued love and support.