Donate
Rick Jackson Memorial Fund
Richard Wayne Jackson
October 17, 1947 – October 31, 2019
A memorial service will be held on Gabriola Island, BC, on December 1, 2019, at the Rollo Centre, 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the Jackson family asks that donations be made to the Rick Jackson Memorial Fund. When you get to Paypal, Choose the ‘Rick Jackson Memorial Fund’.
IN MEMORIAM
Richard Wayne Jackson
October 17, 1947 – October 31, 2019
It is with profound respect and love that we memorialize the life of Richard Wayne Jackson. Rick died peacefully at age 72 on October 31, 2019 at his forest home on Gabriola, enveloped by the love of his wife Lynette, daughter Angela, and sons Erin, Christopher, and Tomas, his brothers Don and Jay, mother-in-law Enid, daughter-in-law Jessica, and grandchildren Sara, Isabella, and Mateo. He is deeply mourned by his vast network of extended family, friends, and national and international colleagues.
Born in St. Thomas, Ontario on October 17, 1947 to mother Lillian Grace and father Charles Edward Jackson, Rick began his life of dedicated public service at the age of 17, when he joined the Royal Canadian Navy, followed by a posting to Chile in the service of the Canadian international diplomatic corps, where he experienced first-hand the destructive trampling of human rights by the Pinochet regime. He subsequently devoted his life to promoting the human rights and inherent dignity of all peoples, both nationally and internationally, serving as the International Director of the Canadian Labour Congress, the head of the Immigration and Refugee Board for Western Canada, and Global Expert on Refugee Determination in Latin America for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
During his international career Rick had the great privilege of conversing with some of the world’s top political and organizational leaders. He led international delegations in dialogue with several heads of government including Mikael Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan, and Nelson Mandela. In 1989 Rick organized and hosted the visit of Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa to Canada, and was with Mr. Walesa when the world first celebrated the news of the fall of the Berlin Wall. As the former head of the Immigration and Refugee Board for Western Canada, Rick managed seven courts and supervised more than 18 independent immigration adjudicators (judges) responsible for deciding more than 3000 matters per year. Many of the innovations Rick put in place during this assignment became national practices and continue to assist the Canadian government to improve its effectiveness in dealing with immigration backlogs.
In later years Rick extended his international efforts as the Americas Representative for the International Association of Refugee Law Judges, which promotes the development and application of international legal standards to the refugee determination processes of countries worldwide. He was recognized by the United Nations as their Global Expert in Refugee Determination for Latin America, and successfully created and led a multi-nation initiative promoting fair and efficient standards for refugee determination and treatment in Central and South America.
In addition to his devotion to public service, Rick had a passion for mentorship, and for 40 years effectively facilitated positive and lasting change in others by applying state-of-the-art human change technology to maximum effect. Intimately familiar with the core competencies, challenges, and creative possibilities of effective personal and organizational leadership, Rick supported leaders in many fields to excel while sharing his first-hand appreciation for the stresses associated with rapid change in the 21st century.
Rick Jackson was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, a gifted public speaker and raconteur, an international advocate for fairness and equality, a tireless champion of human rights, and a powerful voice raised in support of the inherent dignity of every person, and particularly the most vulnerable among us. He infused his work and relationships with his unique blend of humor, compassion, and acceptance, and exemplified his personal conviction that self-responsibility is the key to positive transformation. He continues to be deeply loved and cherished by his beloved wife Lynette, his devoted family, and all whose lives have been blessed by his presence and grace.
A memorial service will be held on Gabriola Island, BC, on December 1, 2019, at the Rollo Centre, 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the Jackson family asks that donations be made to the Rick Jackson Memorial Fund, at the Gabriola Ecumenical Society (gabriolaecumenical.com), a non-profit organization that encourages and nurtures spiritual questing and fosters inclusive community. Rick dedicated his life to exploring the challenges of our times with imagination, creativity, and with respect and compassion for all creation and the world is a better place for all of his contributions. This, too, is the mission of the Gabriola Ecumenical Society. Cheques payable to the Gabriola Ecumenical Society may be sent to the Rick Jackson Memorial Fund, 610 Rollo Road, Gabriola, BC, V0R 1X3; deposits can also be made to the Rick Jackson Memorial Fund at Coastal Community Credit Union Gabriola Branch or on line at https://gabriolaecumenical.com
“Good night sweet prince:
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
Shakespeare
