John Gordon Slaman

It is with unbelievable sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of John Gordon Slaman, Son of Johannes Theodorus Slaman & Cecilia Slaman (Kruis). 

John had four children, Matthew, Michael John (Deceased), David (Bethany) & Janine Slaman. His children will live up to his name in his honour and carry him with them on their journeys every step of the way. He will forever be by their side, as well as all of yours - his beloved friends and family. Loving Son, Brother, Father, Uncle & Friend; John was the best kind of guy - an honest, humble, intelligent, generous and thoughtful man whose absence will be felt each & every day of our lives.

John’s parents immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in the post World War II era as young adults. John grew up in Burford Ontario, a town with one stop sign at the time (now there are two stop lights and a dozen stop signs). He was the third of 5 siblings: Brian, Martin, John himself, Michael & Marian. Burford is a farming town, where Dad grew up working at the family greenhouses weeding & sweating alongside his siblings from the minute they could walk & talk - as is the continued family tradition as attested to by John’s Nieces & Nephews.

John met Elizabeth Wallis at St. John’s College. They were high school sweethearts and spent 32 years together. They raised three beautiful children. John loved his family with all his heart, and did everything for them with each and every breath, thought and action he undertook. There was nothing he would rather do than spend quality time with them - and they shared his respect for the world as well as his love for nature, sports, reading, learning, and movies. John was a coach, mentor, team-mate, and team-leader. Active in the athletic lives of his children coaching hockey & soccer teams for all three kids & playing in recreational leagues himself throughout his childhood and adult life.

John attended the University of Waterloo where he excelled in Math & Computer Science, after which his career as a Software Engineer & Project Manager would take him to the big city of Toronto to work in information technology (‘IT’). John had ambitious career goals. As a project manager, he lead highly competent teams through challenging and original ‘IT’ endeavours, and John undoubtedly realized his career goals and found fulfillment in his professional ambitions. As similarly seen in his parents and siblings, he exemplified a powerful and reliable work ethic to the benefit of his children and those around him. It was obvious for anyone to see that he was extremely diligent, interested and passionate in his work. In the last couple of years, he was at the cusp of returning to farm life as he was helping his son David & daughter-in-law Bethany by supporting, working, and advising their burgeoning market garden in Smithers, B.C.

Despite his office work, John was an outdoor enthusiast - he camped, hiked, kayaked & canoed, every chance he had, usually with his family & friends, though he was even unafraid of adventuring alone. With his kids, John biked his way around Portugal, and hiked through New Zealand. In 2022, he spent 5 weeks on his own driving across Canada from Toronto to Smithers (B.C.), camping, hiking, and cooking meals over a campfire every step of the way. September 2023, he had a similar trip with his brother Mike through the Canadian rockies en route to David’s wedding. 

John saw the best in everyone and gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. He was patient beyond virtue and always took the time to provide a listening ear. He was forever on the lookout for an opportunity to provide logically sound & long-winded advice to friends, family, or strangers as a gesture of his boundless love and good and noble intention.

John will live on, through the lives of each of his three children, and through the bountiful memories we all continue to recall and share.

Dad - we miss you, we love you, and we’re always with you. Thank you for everything you have given to us. We will continue to learn from you and receive your gifts forever, and we will continue to make you proud by patiently and enthusiastically sharing those gifts with others.  

With love - Matthew, Michael John, David and Janine.