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James Brian, February 15, 1950 – January 25, 2025

Our beloved former executive director, James Brian, crossed the threshold peacefully at home this past Saturday morning, following a struggle with lymphoma. James was an exceptional person in so many ways. His contribution to Rudolf Steiner College Canada was remarkable. He enabled us to become a career college and led both the administration and the Waldorf grades programs. Those of us who had the chance to work closely with him will always remember his devotion to anthroposophy, his personal wisdom, his creativity, his warm support for our students, and his humility. James was never one to seek the spotlight but continually supported others so they could shine and be appreciated. James’ knowledge of anthroposophy was profound and he was grateful for having found spiritual science at a young age, as it provided direction for much of his life. He made friends easily and his life brought him in touch with many in our movement. He was also a bridge-builder and enabled many people to find their way to anthroposophy, most notably his work with Indigenous communities through the Douglas Cardinal Foundation for Indigenous Waldorf Education and his many personal relationships with Indigenous people. James had a deep trust in the spiritual world that fired the sun-warmth energy of his heart. He never gave up and found a way to do many wonderful things. We know that James brings a great harvest of knowledge and merit with him as he travels into the spiritual world. In one form or another, we will keep working together!  

Robert McKay, Board Chair, on behalf of RSCC

MEMORIAL SERVICE UPDATE: James Brian’s memorial will be on Thursday, February 13, 2025, 9:30 am arrival, 10:00 am service, at Racine, Robert et Gauthier Funeral Home 180 Montreal road, Ottawa K1L 1B4. The funeral will be streamed for those not able to attend. Click here for obituary and livestream link.

Please also note that we have added a poem for James by Merwin Lewis and a summary of James’ pre-RSCC resume at the end of this post.

One of James’ first projects soon after he arrived at what was then RSCT in the fall of 2017 was to convene a strategic planning process which engaged stakeholders from the broader community of Waldorf schools and other anthroposophical initiatives.
For the College’s Summer Festival in 2018 James engaged teachers from the Everlasting Tree School to offer a course in Indigenous Waldorf Education. The photo above is of participants in that course. James is at the right.

In 2019, RSCC opened the Star Seedlings Family and Childcare Centre in Guelph. Here we see James visiting the not-yet-opened facility together with the RSCC board and staff.
James officiates at a graduation of the part -time Professional Development for Waldorf Grades Teachers program.
James with Waldorf Development Conference guest speaker Christof Wiechert in 2022.
James (middle) with Director of Early Childhood Education Karen Weyler (left) and Marta Bak (right) at a Waldorf Development Conference in 2023.
James talks with teacher Henry Muth during Henry’s Maps and Geography course at the Summer Festival.
James’ work in getting Private Career College recognition for the College’s core Waldorf Teacher Education program enabled us to once again accept students into the program who had no prior paid teaching experience. That led to larger classes such as the one shown above from 2023. That’s James on the left, and Karen Weyler and Vadim Guitman on the right.
James invited Waldorf thought leader Martyn Rawson as a guest lecturer for Teacher Education students and for a public conference and again to give a course at the Summer Festival.
James shares a lighter moment with guest lecturer David Barham, who was at RSCC to lead a week on Waldorf high-school pedagogy in 2023.

Merwin Lewis was moved to write this acrostic poem for James:

In the Service of Dreams

for James Brian

Join hands, my friends, and form a ring
As a bell tolls for this
Man. On any winter
Evening when stars breathe their light and
Snow lies deep in silent thought,
Bring your tiny boats, your gifts, to the
River. With a gentle push, send them off
Into the singing stream of life
And remember how he carried himself:
Nobly, with purpose, in the service of dreams.

Before James Came to RSCC

This is from the blog post announcing James’ appointment as Executive Director in August 2017:

James Brian has worked in the educational field for over 30 years, with both children and adults. He spent 12 years in Germany studying philosophy and educational methods and has diplomas in Rudolf Steiner Special Education and Waldorf Teaching.  He taught at the Kräherwald Waldorf School in Stuttgart, Germany, for 5 years. Returning to Canada in 1988, he was a co-founder of the bilingual École Parsifal School in Ottawa, where he taught with a strong accent on using the artistic training acquired in Europe. He is experienced in teaching painting, drama, sculpture, music and drawing and believes that the artistic approach enlivens, deepens and personalizes the learning experience.
 
With a diploma in Waldorf School Administration and Community Development from Sunbridge College in New York, he has also been active as an educational consultant in advising school faculties and boards of directors on governance issues and organizational development. An experienced public speaker, he has held numerous public lectures and study groups on anthroposophy, educational philosophy and personal development.
 
From 2003 on, he worked as a consultant in organizational development, retreat facilitation and strategic planning. He is a certified professional coach (New Ventures West, San Francisco) and has worked with clients both in numerous federal government departments and in the private sector. Drawing from his experience as an educator, he is able to quickly grasp the essence of what one says and see the potential of an individual. He has the necessary analytical skills to see what is important to work on and a methodical approach to design programs allowing a client to acquire new skills, capacities and competencies.
 
Since 2003 he has been active as a mentor and trainer at the French public Waldorf school Trille des Bois in Ottawa. For the last 3 years he has trained Indigenous teachers and educators in Waldorf methods and is presently President of the Douglas Cardinal Foundation for Indigenous Waldorf Education.
 
James Brian’s aim is to use his educational background and artistic training to help individuals and groups envision their goals and develop the necessary tools and skills in order to achieve their objectives. He is a life-long learner and has worked with hundreds of individuals, helping them unleash and develop their potential.