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SIM, Robert Alexander (Alex) Born May 20th, 1911 on a farm in Saskatchewan, died peacefully in Guelph, April 23rd, 2005 in his 94th year. Growing up in the country deeply affected Alex, and he dedicated his life to rural sociology and adult education, in which he was a true Canadian pioneer. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Toronto, his Master's Degree from Columbia University, New York - and in 1938 he became the first director of Adult Education at McGill University. These experiences led to his co-founding the National Farm Radio Forum, for which he was National Secretary. After the war, he taught at the University of Toronto and co-authored the bestseller Crestwood Heights, the first study of suburban Canada. In 1954 he became Chief Liaison Officer for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, where he supported community development throughout the country. In 1963, he founded Strathmere and Associates, run with then-wife Eleanor and children Heather, David and Robert. Strathmere was part training center, part folk farm, part artist community and as Alex liked to point out, also a profitable farm. In the early 1970s Eleanor and Alex parted amicably, and in 1975 Alex wed second wife Barbara (Bowler), and welcomed her sons Peter and Christopher into his heart. Together Alex and Barbara lived on eco-friendly Robin Wood farm, and later moved to Guelph for an active (and activist) semi-retirement. Never one to sit still, Alex completed his second book Land and Community, and wrote The Other Side of Yesterday, a work that binds together his great loves: family and rural community. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, sister Islay, children Heather, David (and wife Carol), Robert (and wife Margaret), step-children Peter (and wife Yoko), Christopher (and wife Joanne), and grandchildren Booker, Winona, Eric, Eli, John, Virgile and Rachael. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations can be made to the R. Alex Sim Memorial Fund at Queens University (Rural Ministry) or a charity of choice. He will be buried in Holstein, meters from Scottish ancestors who arrived over two centuries ago. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 27th at 2:00 p.m. at Harcourt Memorial Church in Guelph. Arrangements entrusted to Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, Dublin Chapel, 252 Dublin St. N., Guelph (519-822-4731). Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 4/25/2005