James Findlay Sleigh was a caring father, husband, writer, proud Scot, humorist, stoic and friend. He left our world peacefully on November 21, 2024, at the age of 86. He will be deeply missed, but the ones who love him will honour his legacy by never leaving a good joke untold, holding the ones we love close and continuing on his insatiable desire for knowledge. James was born to Daniel and Alexandrina Sleigh and lived near Edinburgh in his youth. His parents were Scots, his mother a Gaelic-speaking Skye woman. He and his (late) brother, Daniel Brian, were educated partly in Rhodesia and Kent, where their parents lived for a number of years. The boys spent the remainder of their childhood in Camustianavaig near Portree on the Isle of Skye. Upon graduating from Portree Senior Secondary, James attended the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly known as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) in Glasgow for four years. James then joined Grampian Television in 1961 as an announcer. After a four-year stint as a member of production staff with BBC Television, he headed for Canada. Once in Canada, James spent many years working at TVO in film production in Toronto. During this time, James continued his education and received a Bachelor of Education in English and Drama and a Master's degree in English from the University of Toronto in 2000. He spent his teaching career at many different high schools across Toronto, most significantly at Eastern Commerce and many years at the University of Toronto Schools (UTS). Whether it was taking part-time night classes to sharpen his French skills, spending many evenings learning more Gaelic, or fixing his beloved MZ Motorcycle, James had an inspiring devotion to his wealth of knowledge.

James was a compassionate individual; he loved cats and into his later days, he cared for his senior cat, 22-year-old Ginger.

James was an extraordinarily creative individual, and he continued his passion for drama and spent time as an actor where he acted in various television shows and commercials. He was an excellent writer and had many of his short stories published, as well as recently his novel A Parcel of Rogues - a quirky, fictional, barbed comedy about Scotland's independence from Great Britain.

James was married to the late Alma-Leonardo Sleigh for 28 years, and they proudly raised their only daughter, Lesley-Anne Sleigh. Beyond James's devotion to raising his daughter into his later years and retirement, he tenaciously completed his PhD in English Literature.

James spent half of his time in retirement on the Isle of Skye at his childhood home that hugs Camustianavaig Bay and half his time at his home in Leaside in Toronto.

His charm and sense of humour will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. As his favourite Scottish poet Robert Burns remarked, "If there's another world, he lives in bliss; If there is none, he made the best of this."

James's The Service will take place at Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre on Saturday January 25, 2025 at 11am, with a Reception from 12-2pm. In memory of James, donations to the Toronto Humane Society would be greatly appreciated.