James Edward MacKenzie

Win & Jim passed away peacefully together on October 1, 2025, at the Ottawa Civic Hospital after 54 years of marriage filled with love.

Win was predeceased by her parents Evelyn and Sam Barbaro and brother Donald Barbaro. She is survived by son Robin (Michelle Cousineau) Bowes, grandsons Kellen (Veronica) Bowes and Shawn (Bobbie) Bowes, great-grandchildren, sister Deborah (Mitchell) Robinson, brother Anthony (Judith) Barbaro, nieces and nephews.

Win was born in Ottawa and graduated from Fisher High School. She was employed in the finance department of the City of Ottawa followed by a position as office administrator at Dibblee Construction and then as Administrative Assistant to the President of the parent company, M.J. O’Brien Ltd., until she relocated to England with her husband Jim. Upon their return to Canada, she assumed the role of office manager in an Ottawa accounting firm.

Win travelled extensively and lived with husband Jim in England, Ottawa, Florida, The Bahamas and made friends wherever she landed. Her charming, outgoing personality brightened the lives of many people and she will be sadly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Win was a skier, tennis player and golfer. The highlight of her tennis times was playing as partner with the all time great and world champion, Rod Laver, in a friendly doubles match where he jokingly told her to return the shots that she liked and he would take the rest.

Over the years, she enjoyed time at the cottage on Calabogie Lake with friends and family.

Jim was predeceased by his parents Anna and Clarence, brother Forbes (Lorraine) sister Betty (Bill) Michael and nephew Stephen MacKenzie. He is survived by his niece Michelle (Greg) Quesnelle of Barrie Ontario and his grandniece Chantelle (Kyle) Tippin, also of Barrie.

Jim was born in Toronto and grew up in Mimico, Port Credit, Victoria Harbour Ontario. He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in agricultural engineering from O.A.C. and in civil engineering from the University of Toronto. He earned a Master of Science Degree in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Jim’s early career was spent as resident engineer on bridge and road construction and later with an international consulting engineering firm where he was appointed Associate of the firm and Chief Transportation Planning Engineer, which took him to various parts of the world on engineering assignments. After settling back in Canada, he became Commissioner of Physical Environment for the City of Ottawa. After five years, he accepted an offer to establish and manage a new land development and homebuilding business in Florida for a major Canadian developer, eventually establishing his own homebuilding operation there. After a brief retirement, he accepted a position as President of the Grand Bahama Development Company in Freeport, Bahamas, where Win and Jim enjoyed the island life together.

Jim was an avid skier, tennis player and self-proclaimed, wannabe golfer. He seized every opportunity to spend time with Win, family and friends at their beloved cottage on Calabogie Lake. After his final retirement Jim and Win divided their time between Calabogie and Florida until finally settling in their apartment in Kanata.

Cremation has taken place. In accordance with their wishes, there will be no formal gathering to celebrate the lives of Win and Jim. Instead, they ask to be remembered privately, each in your own way. Donations in their memory to the Salvation Army, the Alzheimer Society or to MS Canada will be welcomed.