October 17, 2024
Spending nearly 55 years with the same company offers a unique perspective on both the company’s growth and the industry’s evolution. This is certainly true for Jim Weselake from the A49 Winnipeg office, who is celebrating this remarkable milestone this fall. Reflecting on his journey, Jim attributes his enduring career to the engaging projects and the wonderful people he’s worked with over the years.
“All of the projects have been challenging and meaningful to work on. They require functionality but also need to meet requirements for serving people,” he says. Projects like hospitals, museums and laboratories. “They are projects that are meaningful to the communities and I’m lucky that there has been a full range over the years.” Jim went on to make note of the great and interesting people he’s had the opportunity to work with over the years.
His experiences have been varied and in speaking with his colleague Gillian Giles, she notes a couple of significant moments throughout Jim’s career, such as setting his pocket on fire with a pipe in the 70s and meeting Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis in the 80s when travelling to Germany for the 401 West Georgie development in Vancouver.
Perhaps of even more significance, Gillian explains that “In the 1990s, Jim was signatory to the signing of the very first joint venture agreement in Ukraine for the Hotel Tavrida development in Yalta. The signing took place at the Livadia Palace in Yalta and it was the first time the conference room had been used since the Yalta Conference was held with Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin.”
Gillian said Jim is an absolute sweetheart to work with. “I call Jim the Willow. He will always see or try to see both sides of the equation. I wish him nothing but the best. If there were more people like him to work with, life would be a dream. Jim is a man of integrity and has a passion for what he does. That, in itself, is something that endears him to me.”
Also chiming in, Heather Smith said, “I have had the great pleasure of working with Jim for over 20 years as part of the Winnipeg leadership team. I have admired Jim’s steadfast contributions to our firm and am in awe of the 50+ years of energy given to so many areas of practice. Jim can always be counted on to share a great story, provide a hearty laugh and appreciate a good meal and a nice glass of wine.”
Finally, A49’s CEO Scott Stirton noted that, “Jim is a highly skilled and respected architectural practitioner. A consummate gentleman who has demonstrated his commitment to architectural excellence over his decades of practice. Jim has contributed to the legacy and identity of A49 Architects in Winnipeg as a senior partner and principal. His many contributions include the design of seminal buildings in Winnipeg including the Great West Life Headquarters, the Bank of Montreal, Ann Thomas Healthcare Centre, CancerCare Manitoba and many others. Jim is a distinguished, principled and unselfish person who serves as an example of not only how to enjoy the journey as an architect, but more so how to conduct oneself towards excellence and earnest relationships. Congrats on your years of leadership, pursuit of architectural excellence and most of all how to practice with respect and dignity.”
Congratulations on your 55 years, Jim!