James Gibson Lorimer

Who was James Gibson Lorimer?

James Gibson "Jim" Lorimer was a lawyer and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Burnaby-Willingdon in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1960 to 1975 and from 1979 to 1983 as a New Democratic Party member.

He was born in Victoria, British Columbia and served overseas with the Canadian Scottish Regiment during World War II. After the war, Lorimer worked as a he worked as a longshoreman, fisherman, and shipyard worker while he studied law at the University of British Columbia and practised in Grand Forks and then Vancouver. He lived in Burnaby. Lorimer was an unsuccessful candidate in the federal riding of Vancouver Quadra in 1957. He served on the municipal council for Burnaby from 1966 to 1968. Lorimer was first elected to the provincial assembly in a 1969 by-election held following the death of Fred Vulliamy. He was reelected in 1969 and 1972 but defeated when he ran for reelection in 1975. Lorimer was elected again in 1979 and defeated in 1983. Lorimer served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Commercial Transport. He was a director for BC Hydro and chairman for the BC Harbours Board.