James Reid Dickie
August 4, 1949 – February 21, 2016
The happiness of the drop is to die in the river. Celebration and sadness in equal measure mark Reid’s gentle passing in Winnipeg, MB. Born in Brandon, MB, the second child of Helen and Bruce Dickie, Reid grew up happily with loving, inspiring parents in Margaret, Hayfield and Shoal Lake, MB. He attended Hebron School and Shoal Lake Elementary and High School. After graduation he studied Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto. During the 1970s he worked on air radio at CFAR, Flin Flon, CKX, Brandon and Winnipeg stations CFRW-FM, CHIQ-FM and CJUM-FM. Creativity dominated Reid’s life. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he and Linda Tooley, his life partner, created multi-genre, post-modern art using photography, video, performance and installations, many shown at Plug-In Gallery in Winnipeg. Chronicling this era, in 2010 he created The Dick Tool Kit, a boxed set of four DVDs, one CD and a 64-page booklet. During the 1980s Linda and Reid owned and operated IF you have to get dressed in the morning, a vintage clothing store on Corydon Avenue. Thereafter he pursued a career as a freelance writer, studying and writing about architecture, heritage issues and history widely published in newspapers and magazines. He wrote extensively about his hometown, creating a blog devoted to Shoal Lake’s history. His book, Manitoba Heritage Success Stories, was published in 2006, Carberry Heritage Walking Tour in 2010 and Play the Jukebox, his only novel, self-published in 2016. Reid was a joyful man, animal lover and life-long learner who craved new ideas and new modes of expression. Several of his short stories and newspaper articles won writing awards. In midlife Reid developed his spiritual being enriching his life beyond measure. He travelled widely on the Canadian prairies visiting dozens of ancient sacred sites, performing rituals and exploring the realms opened up through his daily practice of neo-shamanism. He wrote extensive fiction and non-fiction about his experiences during his sacred journeys. In 2010, after his retirement he started his blog www.readreidread.com and a YouTube channel as outlets for his writing and new videos. Lucky in love, Reid met Linda in the mid 1970s spending 33 loving years together until her death from cancer. Reid had many life-long friendships. When polled Reid’s friends described him as “funny, handsome, gifted, kind, witty, compassionate, wise, spiritual.” Reid was predeceased by his sister Dayna Lee in 1948, his mother in 1993, his father in 2001 and Linda in 2009. He leaves to mourn cousins and many good and true friends. A private ceremony will be held at a later date. Special thanks to the exceptional angels of 3E at Riverview Health Centre. In lieu of donations do something kind for someone and pay it forward.
Be happy.
ReadReidRead 
I hear your laugh, Reid. Thanks for all the wonderful gifts you gave to all of us. Happy travels! Wishing you expanding realms forever. So much love, Sharon
RIP Reid. I was not ready for this news. You didn’t know me and I only knew you through your writing on this site. I wish I had known you in person. I wish I had told you how much your writing and exploration inspired me. Thank you so much for your contributions of the content on this site. You have left a legacy I shall not forget.
so sorry to hear this. Condolences to family.
So sad, I remember shopping regularly at IF and enjoying conversations with both Reid and Linda. Always nice to bump in to them on the street and catching up.
Darena
You were a kind,gentle,fascinating man,Reid, what an honour,and privelege, to have spent a few,very special occasions wirh you. I shall miss the chance of getting to know you better.Your kindness,and thoughtfulness,I will cherish,with the special rememberances you made for keepsakes, at our gatherings,Rest in peace,Reid!
I met Reid when I was 14, in Brandon, Manitoba. It was the early 1970s. I called CKX one night to request Satori Part II by the Flower Travelling Band. Reid played it, then followed up by saying it was terrible. I called to complain, and we talked for hours. I used to sneak out of the house in the middle of the night, go down the street to CKX and he’d let me in the side door. “Hello, freak!” he’d say. He’d buy me a pop and I’d sit in during his show. He was a marvel of creativity–he dedicated his life to art in a very honest and unpretentious way. One hell of a role model for a young man to have. Lost all touch with him until last year when he sent me a message via LinkedIn of all things. I messaged back but he didn’t reply. I did not know he was sick. I am stunned to hear of his death but also shocked that so many people knew him. I thought he was just my old friend and mentor Reid. He was one of those people–you’re lucky if you have one or more of them–who looms large in your life long after they moved on. I thought of him often and really wish we could have reconnected. To me, he was a giant.
such sadness on hearing this. Loved his stories and pictures of rural Manitoba.
Manitoba has lost a true treasure! Mr. Dickie has shown the world what it is to be proud of your home province, and showcase it’s history, geography and culture. I am certainly more aware (and appreciative) of Manitoba because of Mr. Dickie’s work. What a contribution to the provincial heritage! Plus I didn’t know until I read his obit that he and his wife ran “If You Have to Get Dressed in the Morning”, which was my favourite shop “back in the day”.
Thank you Mr. Dickie for your wonderful work and R.I.P.
Does anyone know how I can get a copy of the DVD & CD of the “Dick Tool Kit”?
The DicKTool videos are on line here in the blog. He gave copies of boxed sets of the video and CDs to a number of us who attended his magical night held at the Park Theatre where he held, “A Celebration of Light and Linda.”
I met Linda and Reid in 1974 at CJUM, the UofM campus radio station. The connections made there lasted for many years but we drifted apart. I was so happy when he invited me back into his artist’s life in 2010 at that event. We kept in touch after that, enjoying lunch at The Met, and traversing one of his favourite spots at Sandilands. His creative energy was in overload and he continued to rent a car and travel about Manitoba every summer and suddenly a book started to be written. He would tell me how his characters really were writing the dialogue themselves.
He closed all of his emails with, “Be happy.”
Only found out about it today. Sad loss of one of my teenage icons. It was great to have re-discovered him through occasional visits to his website. He was still one cool, interesting guy and I will miss him. Fortunately we all have his website to check in on and glean inspiration from.
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Very sad to hear you’ve passed on, Reid. The news comes like a jolt from the blue. I was today just tracing my own history with my love of music. I stumbled on your blog and discovered you gone only by days. I still remember the days listening to your voice over the airwaves from CJUM and CFRW-FM. You were one of the pioneering FM radio guys in The Peg and I was a big fan. I met you once at UofM and got to tell you how great you sounded. I really enjoyed the intelligence of your shows. I’m glad I had that opportunity. Thanks for the music and time well spent. Now I think I’ll listen to something from those days in your honour….