Memorable Manitobans: James Charles Gram “Jim” Blom (1935-2005)

Businessman, municipal official.

Born at Regina, Saskatchewan on 16 November 1935, son of ? Blom and Catherine Blom, he worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Lynn Lake and Lac du Bonnet. In 1958, he transfered to Balmertown, Ontario where he opened the Rex Theatre, a drive-inn lunch business, the Gold Center Clothing Store, and served on town council. He moved to Lac du Bonnet in 1972 and established and operated the Surfside Restaurant until a fire ruined the business in 1986.

He and wife Yvette Marie Chevrefils (?-?) had four children. The couple divorced in 1989. He later re-married at Winnipeg on 17 June 2000 to Teresa Marie Blom but the couple divorced in 2002. He served as Mayor of Lac du Bonnet (1975-1977) during which time he founded the True Value store (later Campbell’s Groceries). He relocated again in 1992, moving to First Nations communities in Northern Manitoba to establish businesses.

He died at his residence on 14 September 2005 and was buried in the Lac du Bonnet Cemetery.

Sources:

“Dateline: Manitoba,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 September 1986, page 2.

Obituary [Owen James Blom], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 May 1995, page B6.

Files FD89-01-18218 & FD02-01-66553, Family Division, Winnipeg Court of Queen’s Bench.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 17 September 2005, page 39.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 31 May 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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