James Clunie “Jim” Gourlay

GOURLAY, James Clunie ‘Jim’

Journalist, magazine publisher and wildlife conservationist Jim Gourlay died on August 12, 2026 at age 77, surrounded by his loving family and beloved dog, Hamish, at his home in Toney River, Nova Scotia.

He is survived by his wife and business partner, Linda; sons, Michael and Colin (Anne); stepdaughter, Gillian (Jeff); stepson, Luke (Erika); and grandchildren, Dylan, Lennon, Samuel, Flora, Sophia, Violet and Juniper. He is also survived by his first wife, Eileen (with whom he continued to enjoy a warm relationship); as well as sisters, Sandra, Kathryn and Linda; and brother, David; plus, nieces Samantha, Nicola and Lynsey, all in Scotland.

A native of Scotland, he emigrated to Canada in 1968 at age 19 with $600 to his name and an indomitable ambition to become a journalist. He spent 16 years in the newspaper field, attaining senior editor status with Atlantic Canada's largest daily newspaper, the Chronicle Herald.

He switched to the magazine industry in 1984, after being invited to become an Associate Editor of Atlantic Insight magazine. In 1985, he and partners launched a new, highly popular regional outdoor publication, Eastern Woods & Waters, and he served as editor, later owner and publisher, for 24 years. He was also a former Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious Atlantic Salmon Journal.

Born and raised in Scotland, he chose to make Atlantic Canada his home out of love for the place, the outdoor and wildlife opportunities it offered, and the people. He was appalled by the "have-not" label inflicted upon the region by others elsewhere. In 2000, Jim, his wife Linda, and local partners launched Saltscapes—a buy-local lifestyle magazine by and for Atlantic Canadians (and those who wish they were). The brand was extended in 2005 to include the popular Saltscapes East Coast Expos.

Jim created not only the magazine title but also the editorial mission statement: "Some would make us just names on a list. But we are people in a place—and resist," which became a permanent feature on the magazine's editorial page.

The pride-in-place theme was warmly embraced by consumers, and Saltscapes quickly became the "go-to" for Atlantic Canadian lifestyle, cuisine, culture, travel and community. He served as Saltscapes co-publisher and Editor-in-Chief, and the magazine earned an unprecedented 62 regional, national and international awards for journalistic excellence on his watch. During his career he sent 385 magazine issues to press.

He was past president of the US-based International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA) and co-founder and past chairman of the Atlantic Magazines Association (AMA).

As an internationally respected wildlife conservationist, Jim focused on wild Atlantic salmon and engaged Atlantic Canada's wildlife community through journalism and speaking engagements. His articles appeared in major publications across Canada, the UK and the US. He also presented briefs on behalf of Canada's wild Atlantic salmon resource to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Forestry and the Royal Commission on Forestry.

He was instrumental, in the mid-70s, in first bringing to public attention the damage being caused to freshwater fish habitat in Nova Scotia by a newly recognized phenomenon called "acid rain." He was also the first Canadian journalist to disclose the extensive damage being done to wild Atlantic salmon resources by the open net pen aquaculture industry. In the late 1990s he was a lone voice. Today, a huge anti-net pen movement has evolved on both coasts.

He was presented with the Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor's Award for Conservation in recognition of his longstanding commitment on behalf of wild Atlantic salmon.

Jim's passionate outdoor recreational pursuits included fly fishing, fly tying, clay target shooting and field work with his beloved springer spaniels. He was widely admired for his uncommon skill with a fly rod and at the fly-tying vise.

Cremation has taken place, and his ashes will be spread at a later date at a life celebration in Toney River and at a family gathering on his favourite watercourse in Scotland, where he was taught to fish as a youngster by unforgiving brown trout.

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