Colin Jackson

It is with profound sadness that the family of Colin Jackson announce his peaceful passing on Friday, November 3, 2023, at the age of 92.  Colin was predeceased by his parents, Albert and Gladys Jackson; and sister, Betty Fyfe.  He married his first wife Faye, and lived in Sydney, Jenolan Caves and Tumut NSW.  Michael, his only son, was born in 1954.  Unfortunately, Faye passed away in 1969.

Colin is lovingly remembered by his wife of 42 years, Colleen; his son, Michael and wife Diane; grandson, Nathan and fiancee Cheryl; stepson, Greg Condon and wife Linda; step grandchildren, Paige, Braiden, Kail, Kassandra, Paul, Brianna; and friends and relatives in Australia. 

Colin was born in Sydney Australia. Colin’s lifelong love of skiing drew him to Canada. He immigrated to Calgary, in 1974, and Michael followed in 1978.  Colin’s first job, was a ski lift operator on Strawberry chairlift at Sunshine Village.  After a year, he took a job as Consultant Engineer with Underwood McLellan, and fell in love with the mountains around Banff, Canmore and Spray Lakes.  He then took a position as Consultant with Phillips Brothers Land Development Ltd., Phillips Development 1 Ltd. and Trans World Oil & Gas Ltd., and due to success, advanced to Vice President of the consortium. Colin developed Phillips Industrial Park, and negotiated the leasing and construction of the Energy Resources Conservation Board building in downtown Calgary.  He substantially increased oil and gas revenue in the Oil and Gas company. Colin continued to work on the incorporation of Spray Lakes, Mt. Sparrowhawk, as a venue for the Calgary bid for the 1988 Olympics.  After Calgary, won the bid and Sparrowhawk was excluded as a venue, he and Colleen moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where Colin became President of Snowbird Development Corp. 

Dick Bass, owner of Snowbird Ski Area, wanted to build a hotel and conference center. This was a monumental task, due to the ski area being in the corridor of the Wasatch fault earthquake zone, lack of water supply in the event of a fire for such a large development, and no gas line up Little Cottonwood Canyon.  Colin effectively negotiated with all affected players, which then allowed for this massive development.   One of the main obstacles was that the state wanted a back-up water supply in the event of a fire.  Colin developed a massive steel and concrete bulkhead, sealing an old silver mine which allowed several thousand cubic feet of water to be stored behind it that kept it from draining until needed. For this engineering feat he won the United States Department of Energy Innovation Award in 1986 which was awarded to him in Washington D.C. He also incorporated the original cogeneration plant that supplies its own power and then recycles waste heat created from power production to warm its buildings and water.  Colin was also part of Utah’s unsuccessful Olympic bid in the 1980’s.

In Colin’s spare time he studied and completed a Doctor of Business Administration degree (DBA) from Pacific Western University.  He was proud of all his family’s accomplishments but was especially proud of grandson Nathan when he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at UofC and accepted a position in Vancouver.

Colin and Colleen travelled and skied at many ski resorts throughout Europe, U.S. and Australia. Colin was a member of the Volunteer Ski Patrol at Sunshine Village in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  He was also active in various Calgary tennis clubs in later life. Colin lived an active and full life until his diagnosis of dementia.  The family would like to thank the staff at Newport Harbour Care Centre, for the care that Colin received. A special thank you to Patty who has a special gift in handling dementia patients.

Colin was always interested in medical innovation and it was his wish to have his body donated to the Cumming School of Medicine.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Newport Harbour Care Centre, Harbour Hall, 10 Country Village Cove NE Calgary, Alberta T3K 6B4 on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm .

In Lieu of Flowers, please donate to your local SPCA.