James (Jim) Allan Coutts, C.M. (LL.B. '61) - Canadian lawyer, businessman, and former advisor to two Prime Ministers.
It is with great sorrow that the University of Alberta Faculty of Law announces the passing on December 31, 2013, in Toronto, of its distinguished alumnus James (Jim) Coutts (LL.B. '61).
Jim Coutts was born in 1938 in High River, Alberta, and raised in nearby Nanton. Mr. Coutts received his B.A. and LL.B. from the University of Alberta in 1960 and 1961 respectively. He loved university from day one. It was as if the place was designed for him. He took mostly history and economics courses and then some political science. But university was so much more than classes. Jim Coutts became involved in the Gateway, the men's residence, the political clubs, model Parliament, World University Students' Assoc., the Debate Society, the Law Club, and Students' Council. His law class was made up of approximately thrity students and included Bruce Jackson, David Searle and Bob Newton. Classes were held in the Arts Building. His professors were: Bill Angus (Administrative Law), David McDonald (Evidence), Doug Sherbaniuk (Tax), Andy Thompson (Real Property), Dean Bowker (Torts), and Dr. Alexander Smith (Contracts and Constitutional). Jim Coutts especially liked professors Angus, McDonald, and Bowker as they encouraged him to delve into the cases.
In 1962 Jim Coutts was called to the bar of Alberta by Justice Milvain. He practised law in Calgary with the firm McLaws & Co. from 1961 to 1963. In 1968, he received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Though he practised as a lawyer and business consultant, his great love since the age of 14 was politics, in general, and the Liberal Party of Canada in particular. From 1963 to 1966 he was appointed as the Secretary to then Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson. From 1975 to 1981 he served as Principal Secretary to then Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau. He was regarded as one of the powerful figures in Ottawa during that period.
Jim Coutts with Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Pierre Elliott TrudeauJim Coutts was a consultant, from 1968 to 1970, with the McKinsey & Company, Cleveland, Zurich. From 1970 to 1975, Mr. Coutts was a Founding Partner, Canada Consulting Group, where he helped Maurice Strong organize the Stockholm Environment Conference and establish the UN's Environment headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1982 he became a principal of Lowther Consultants Limited and subsequently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CIC Canadian Investment Capital Limited.
Business success seemed merely a means by which Jim Coutts could undertake his highly activist philanthropy as a generous donor, a relentless fundraiser and a dedicated mentor to countless young people and more than 17 god-children. Mr. Coutts served as a founder and chairman of the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific Foundation Board; a co-founder with The Writers' Trust of Canada of the W.O. Mitchell Literary Prize for Writers and Mentors; a director of The Hospital for Sick Children Board and Foundation for 17 years; a National Chair of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, where he took the lead in organizing two campaigns that raised over $700 million for conservation in Canada; and a member of the board of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
In recognition of his service to others and to his country, Jim Coutts was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2001.
Jim Coutts was an outstanding Albertan, known for his generosity and his dedication to public life. He is survived by his sister, Jean, and two nephews and two nieces.
Further tributes to Jim Coutts can be read in the following media articles and obituaries: