John passed away after a short battle with cancer surrounded by family on Saturday November 23rd, 2024 at the age of 68 years. Loving father to daughter, Victoria (Chouaib) and son Christie as well as granddaughter Hana. He will be dearly missed by brother David (Beth), close friend and former spouse Alex Milroy, and fondly remembered by many extended family members, friends, and colleagues.
Born in Montreal, QC to the late Thomas Christie Arnold from Bermuda and Marie Blanche Louise Proulx from Chicoutimi, QC. John’s formative years were across Geneva, Toronto, Ottawa, New York State, and St. Catharines, before graduating from Mount Allison University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Commerce.
John spent the majority of his career with the Liberal Party of Canada where he recently celebrated his 30th anniversary of service having risen to Senior Director of Regulatory Compliance & Administration. He took great fulfillment from his work and the community there, having no desire to retire even after achieving this milestone. While John loved the contractual and administration work he especially enjoyed the social aspects of his position, and could often be found at local & national events and networking opportunities. John was a mainstay of the LPC organization, and his presence will be missed by all those who had the opportunity to work with him.
John was an excellent cook and had the ability to fix almost anything. In his spare time he enjoyed doing renovations to his home, tending to the garden, spending time with family, and going on long daily walks. His house was a testament to his abilities as he transformed a fixer-upper into a beautiful, thoughtfully designed home. John loved to travel, and would often be joined by his son on trips, typically including at least one winery destination. As a dedicated grandfather John always showed up to cheerleading competitions and horse shows to support his beloved Hana. John was also a devoted son, who diligently supported his mother Louise until she reached the end of her own journey last year.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Saturday, December 14th from 3-5pm at Beechwood Cemetery (280 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa, ON).
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Bruyere Foundation, 43 Bruyere Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 5C8.
Digital Guestbook
GEORGE YOUNG
Esme Pariseau
I had the privilege of working with John at LPC for nearly four years, during which time I came to admire his brilliant expertise and sharp sense of humour. I will always cherish the lessons I learned from him and am grateful for his mentorship.
John positively impacted so many lives. My deepest sympathies to John's family.
Ellie Charters
I had the pleasure of knowing John for the past decade as the most distinguished and friendly client who turned into a friend me and so many of us in the tourism industry. I was so very sad when I heard of his passing and his sweet smile has been in my mind ever since. Sincerest condolences to his family. Ellie
Christine Poirier
J'ai souvent eu de longues conversations, en français, avec John. John, c'était la compétence même, et la voix de la raison. Il était LA personne à convaincre du bien-fondé de certains projets, car il n'acceptait que ce qui était bien ficelé. Il était prévoyant, organisé, poli, gentil, distingué, de bon conseil, et je pourrais encore continuer. Nous avions beaucoup de plaisir ensemble. Je l'appréciais sincèrement, et je sais qu'il m'appréciait aussi. Aujourd'hui, je perds un ami, et notre pays perd un grand Canadien.
Jonathan R Krall
I had the pleasure of working with John at LPC, he was a loyal and consummate professional. John was a great well of knowledge and will be missed.
My deepest sympathies and condolences to the family.
Lynn Chiasson, Québec City Convention Centre
Oh my, what sad news. John was a client but also, good friend. Always was a pleasure to see and chat with him. A true gentleman.
My heart goes out to the family and close friends of John.
Please accept my most sincere condolences.
Pat Guay
I only knew John for 6 years in a professional relationship. Always cheerful and positive. It was always a pleasure to see him and chat. His smile and positive presence will be missed at our events. Long may you run my friend!
Anjani Surelia
John was a remarkable individual who was not only a mentor but also a guiding light in my life. For nearly three years of my time at Liberal Party of Canada, John shared his wisdom, expertise and unwavering support, helping me grow both professionally and personally. Through his mentorship, I learned invaluable skills and this will always remain a cherished part of my journey. His kindness, patience, and dedication to shaping the lives of others will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with his family, and I am truly grateful for the privilege of having learned from such a remarkable person. Rest in peace, John. You will be dearly missed.
Sachit Mehra
The Liberal Party of Canada has many great pillars, few quite as tall as John. If you've been anywhere near the party over the last 30 years, chances are you've worked with John. Dedicated to detail, relationships, and the party, John's talents extended beyond his role. John will be deeply missed, but never forgotten by those he worked with.
Christina Topp
I was so sorry to learn of John's passing. When I joined the Party he was an early source of insight, history and advice, and that didn't change over our six years of working together. He was dedicated to the Party and the team, and we are so lucky for his service. I haven't seen him for a few years but I remember his smile well and will miss him. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
I was tremendously saddened to learn earlier today of John's death and I regret immensely that I did not know of John's illness. I would have reached out to him personally, just as he always did for other people when the need arose for whatever reason.
John joined the LPC office officially after the '93 election, as did I. He was someone I could always rely upon to give sound and honest advice when it came to our finances (not great at first in those days) at the Party.
Over the years we had many occasions to meet, gab, and catch up - usually whilst tasting a glass of vino. In spite of the "iron fist" when it came to Party monies, John also had a good heart and wonderful sense of humour.
All of the comments that have preceded mine have, even more eloquently, described the friend we and our country have lost. My deepest condolences are offered to his family and close friends.
Rest in peace, John...you served your family, community and country well.