Obituary of James Donald Harper

Don Harper passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after a brief illness. He is survived by his beloved wife, Grace “Lois” Harper (Houslander).  He was a cherished father to Jonathan Harper (Mary-Ellen Harper), David Harper (Maureen Harper), Heather McGregor (Gord McGregor), and proud grandfather to Michelle, Hunter, Trinity, Brianna, Holly, and Dylan.  He was predeceased by their 3rd child Jamie, who passed at age two - a loss that remained close to their hearts.

He was born on April 2, 1936 in Sudbury, to Eunice Margaret (Smith) and James Paul Harper. Because his father was a bank manager, the family moved frequently throughout his childhood. Don attended Westdale High in Hamilton, where he met the love of his life at 16 years old, Lois Houslander. They married in 1958 and shared a lifetime which was the truest realization of ‘Two living as One’.  

In 1958, Don earned his BSC in Pharmacy from the University of Toronto, later earning his MBA.  He began his career in Toronto/Don Mills at The UpJohn Company in 1958, later moving to Eli Lilly as a pharmacological scientist.  In 1968, they moved to Ottawa for his work with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada, which he led as of 1975.  Later, in the mid-1980s, he served as President of the Proprietary Association of Canada, focusing on the non-prescription drug industry.

In the early 1990s, Don joined Lois at Congress Travel to build their passion project, the performing arts tour/travel company “Arts Bureau for the Continents”, where they managed choir and orchestra tours and festivals internationally. Together, they led innovative group tours around the world, focussed on their shared love of art, history, culture, and the unifying power of music.  They were also enthusiastic lifelong supporters of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.  One of his proudest achievements was their creation of the annual Unisong Choral Festival, which since 1997 brought together youth choirs from every Province and Territory across Canada to perform in Ottawa as one - ‘Uniting Canada through Song’.  Unisong continues today, now held every 5th Canada Day.

To his children and family, Don was a source of unwavering optimism, steadfast love, and wise counsel—always delivered with a cheerful and quirky sense of humour. His passion, grandiose storytelling and encouragement, will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him.

Friends and family are invited to his Celebration of Life on Saturday September 20th from 1-3pm, at Cole Funeral home, 2500 Baseline Rd., Ottawa, ON.     

Words of remembrance at 2:00 p.m.

Please RSVP to: DonHCelebration@gmail.com 

We have set up a photo upload site at https://www.tributeslides.com/up/30193867114932 if you wish to post memorable photos that may be part of a scrolling photo display at his celebration of life.