08/11/2026
On behalf of the Township of North Kawartha, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Councillor Jim O'Shea.
Jim O'Shea's dedication to our community, his passion for environmental stewardship, and his unwavering commitment to public service have left a lasting mark on North Kawartha. We are grateful for his years of service and the positive impact he made on our municipality.
His legacy will continue to be reflected in the community he cared for so deeply. Jim O'Shea will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
As a mark of respect and in honour of Councillor Jim O'Shea's years of service to the Township and community, flags at Township facilities have been flown at half-mast.
Peterborough County
It is with a terrible heavy sadness that Council, Staff, and the Township of North Kawartha acknowledge the passing of our colleague and friend, Councillor Jim O’Shea, on August 6, 2026.
Jim was a longtime resident of Chandos Ward, a cottager since 1973 and then calling North Kawartha his home year-round for the past 2 decades. Over those many years, he became deeply woven into the life of this community—not only as an elected representative, but as a neighbour, volunteer, environmental advocate, photographer, bridge player, golfer, and friend.
Jim served the people of North Kawartha with dedication and care as the Chandos Ward Councillor and a member of the Library Board since 2014. Long before he sat at the Council table, however, he was already giving his time and energy to the community. He served for 14 years as President of the Chandos Lake Property Owners’ Association, and he was Co-chair of the North Kawartha Lakes Association for several of those years. His contributions to the Chandos Lake community were remarkable. As President of the Chandos Lake Property Owners’ Association, he helped recruit younger volunteers, encouraged ecological awareness, brought new energy to the regatta, and helped shape the annual CLPOA yearbook. Jim was also involved with the creation of the CLPOA Sailing Club approximately fifty years ago, a legacy that continues today. Jim received the Solicitor General’s Ontario Crime Prevention Award for his work with local cottage watch programs and he received a Peterborough County Environmental Award for his work as president of the CLPOA during his first term on Council. In 2024 Jim received the Chandos Lake Outstanding Contributor Award in recognition of his many years of service and support.
It’s no secret that Jim was passionate about the environment. He contributed to regional Lakeland Conferences, sharing information on lake capacity studies, shoreline restoration, and environmental education. Jim helped to strengthen local engagement and protect the lakes and landscapes that mean so much to all of us.
However, Jim’s contributions extended far beyond municipal government. He was active with the ABC Seniors, the Glen Alda Seniors and the community bridge club. As Treasurer of the Glen Alda Seniors, he brought order, care, and good accounting practices to the group. Jim was also a strong advocate for scent-free practices throughout the Township, a cause that reflected both his care for his wife and his broader instinct to make public spaces safer and more welcoming for others.
Jim was perhaps best known by many as North Kawartha’s unofficial “official” photographer. With skill and generosity, he captured the heart and spirit of our community at local events. Through his photos, he preserved the moments, faces, and gatherings that tell the story of who we are.
On behalf of Council and our entire community, we extend our sincere condolences to Marion, his daughter Rachel, his family, and to all who knew and loved him. We are grateful for his years of service, and for the many ways he helped shape the community we are privileged to serve. Jim’s absence will be felt around the Council table and throughout North Kawartha. Yet his legacy will live on in the lakes and lands he worked to protect, the organizations he strengthened, the photographs he left behind, and the countless relationships he built over 50+ years in this community. May we honour Jim’s memory by continuing to serve with the same care, thoughtfulness, and dedication that he brought to this work.
Jim’s family has asked that donations in Jim’s memory can be made to the ALS Society of Canada. A date for a Celebration of Life has not been chosen at this time. When those details become available we will share them.
Thank you, Jim. We will miss you.❤️
