The 60-year-old former CEO and vice-chairman of Shaw Communications, Jim Shaw, died Wednesday.
Shaw Communications is a giant telecommunications company based in Calgary where Jim Shaw was CEO from 1998 to 2010 before handing the reins to his younger brother.
Shaw was recently struck with a brief illness but it is unclear if it caused his death and what exactly the illness was. Shaw leaves behind his wife Kathryn, three children and three step-children.
<img src="https://media.8ch.net/file_store/6c436317ef36d3a5fecf0a772b3dbe8fc91708a573107fa57d53cfe529de339d.jpg" style="max-height:640px;max-width:360px;">
<span style="margin-top:15px;rgba(42,51,6,0.7);font-size:12px;">Credit: Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press</span>
Jim Shaw's younger brother, the current CEO of Shaw Communications, issued a public statement saying, "As a family, our hearts are heavy with sadness. I have not only lost a brother but a great friend and mentor. Our lives will not be as complete without hearing Jim's laughter or getting the benefit of his counsel or his insight."
The company has been in the family for decades beginning with its founder, Shaw's father JR in 1966 who is still the company's executive chairman at age 83.
In 1982, Jim Shaw joined the company after dropping out of the University of Calgary and trying to start several businesses with varying degrees of success.
Jim Shaw was appointed vice president of operations in 1987, then became president of the company in 1995 before finally becoming CEO in 1998. He is praised for his role in supporting Candian charities and educational organizations.
He donated $19 million to Shawnigan Lake School in 2014 and also participated in several organizations within the cable industry such as serving as chair of the Canadian Cable Television Association from 1996 to 2002.
His younger brother attributes much of the company's success to Jim saying, "As an operator, a deal maker, and a strategist, Jim continued building the foundation started by our father, JR, to create a Canadian business leader and household brand across Western Canada."
Former associates and employees of Shaw Communications expressed their condolences with the family on social media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jim Shaw was a pioneer in business who changed the telecommunications landscape. He was a philanthropist who made an enormous difference in his community.</p>— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) <a href="https://twitter.com/RachelNotley/status/948767298315169792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A very sad night here at Corus and for our friends at <a href="https://twitter.com/ShawInfo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShawInfo</a> with word that former Shaw CEO Jim Shaw has passed away. Deepest condolences to JR, Carol, Brad, Heather and Julie - and especially to Jim's wife Kathyrn and five children.</p>— Troy Reeb (@troyreebglobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/troyreebglobal/status/948706877545877538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A great Canadian who, together with a great family, did much to make Canada great as well. Very kind to me on the one occasion that we met. Jim Shaw, RIP. <a href="https://t.co/Hj88NBSRYR">https://t.co/Hj88NBSRYR</a></p>— Christopher Sands (@sandsathopkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/sandsathopkins/status/948713089205227521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The chair of Canadian telecom Rogers Communications, Edward Rogers, also expressed his sympathies in a release.
"We have known Jim for many years and we are truly saddened to hear of his passing. We would like to extend our sincere condolences to Jim's family, friends and to everyone at Shaw. Jim was a brilliant man and a fierce competitor. He was a confident entrepreneur who had a transformative and lasting impact on the Canadian cable landscape. He will surely be missed."
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Source: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/jim-shaw-dies-1.4472210
