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
Élisabeth d'Amours
Peter R
I am shocked and sad.
I worked for John from 1995 to 2000. We argued a lot as we both had strong opinions, but once the argument was resolved we remained friends with no hard feelings (even when he lost the argument - a rarity). He had great integrity, and a sly sense of humour that many people didn't get to see.
May his memory be a blessing.
Nan Wehbe
Rest in peace my dear friend, John. Thank you for your authenticity, for sharing your wisdom and all the laughs we had. I will miss you tremendously but feel fortunate to have been able to call you my friend.
Judy Dornan
I had lost touch with John. We were Mount Allison swim team members back in the day. John was a good swimmer and a great team mate. He was always cheerful and supportive. My condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.
Tracy Zhang
I can't forget how I was shocked when I learned John passed away because he was a so healthy person. Although I have not known him very long, I was impressed by his kind, due diligence and hard work. It was a big loss for our department as he was a good director and contribute to our department a lot.
May he rest in peace!
Shane Mackenzie
For years, I worked in and around John at the Liberal Party headquarters. I feel grateful for that time. Every time I went to see John, I learned something. I remember many interesting conversations standing in his doorframe, and he humoured me many times with a chuckle at my jokes. He not only solved our problems, but John was a steady force that took the time to empower people around him. His presence and his solidity made all of us rest easy. Now, it is his turn to rest easy. We will all miss him. To his family, my thoughts and deepest condolences are with you. Thank you for sharing him with us who passed through his life and he passed through ours. Rest in peace, John.
Greg Plazek
It was a privilege to work with John over the years, supporting many of the travel and events he organized through the Liberal Party, from the hotel side. John was always a welcome presence at any client event, known for his respectfulness and courtesy towards everyone in our industry. Engaging with him meant having robust, intelligent discussions and sharing a few laughs. He showed genuine interest in conversations and was an active listener. John was a true friend to all of us in the hospitality industry, not only in Ottawa but across Canada. We deeply miss him, and he has left us far too soon.
My sincere condolences to John's family and loved ones.
Seán K Kelly
John and I have been friends for over 10 years, but our friendship evolved to legendary work-BFF status while on business trip hosted by Tourism Calgary back in 2016. It was during that trip that we discovered and refined our shared enthusiasm for entertaining those around us with silly, sarcastic humour and self mockery. I can’t even count how many times we laughed together until our faces hurt and we were gasping for breath!
I was shocked and deeply saddened when I learned of John’s passing. My heart goes out to his family. John was honourable, dependable and loyal to his core. He was always available for a friend in need, full of sound advice and guidance when called upon, and we're all going to miss him very much.
His kindness, positive nature, youthful demeanor, and unrelenting love for his family had an indelible impact on me. Rest in peace, John. It was an honour and a privilege to be your friend!
Joseph Mayer
I have thought of John very recently as I was at the National Arts Centre and saw the name “John Arnold” on a donor wall and assumed it was the same person. Also, John and I stayed in touch over the years at Christmas time, via the humble but time-honoured medium of the Christmas card.
It was an honour and a pleasure to work with John during my brief stint at the LPC in 2008. He was the consummate professional, getting lots done in a no-nonsense style. We would also sometimes run into each other on Bank Street, I on my bike and John walking home from the office. I had a great deal of respect for him and will miss him. My deepest sympathies to his wife and family.
Dan Lussier
I was saddened to see the news of John's passing. I only worked at LPC HQ for a brief time, but it didn't take long to figure out that John was a fixture on the financial and compliance side of the office. His dedication was impressive and although he could be tough at times, he was also a mentor to many younger, less experienced, staff. Through 30+ years of service he left an indelible mark on the party that will not easily replaced.
To John's family, please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. My thoughts are with you.
I was deeply saddened to hear of John’s sudden passing. John was a mentor to me and to so many others at LPC. His kindness and generosity made a lasting impact on me and my career. I will always remember John’s patience and dedication—whether it was taking time to answer my countless questions or sharing insights into his work, often at the expense of his own busy schedule.
John often spoke with pride and joy about his children, and it was always a pleasure to hear him share stories about his family, his life and his travels. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from him and get to know the remarkable person he was.