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 