James Ord Woodward Fonger

26 June 1957 – 25 July 2026

James Ord Woodward Fonger, 69, of Caledon, Ontario, passed away suddenly on Saturday, July 25th, 2026. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 40 years, Leanne; his sons Jason (Bridget DeMarsh) and Dylan (Piper McCutcheon); his granddaughter Romy; his sister Joy Garrick; his brothers Rob and Rick; and many other family members and friends.

Jim was born in Toronto on June 26th, 1957, the youngest of four. His mother, Doris, was a professional musician and a talented visual artist; his father, Dick, spent most of his career as an arts media producer with the CBC. When Jim was a baby the family moved to

Niagara-on-the-Lake, where his father tried his hand at farming, and where Jim’s sister Joy played an important role in raising him. Jim was always very lively and inquisitive, even as a baby. He was curious about everything. On the family farm, they grew a variety of fruits and vegetables, including peaches, cherries, tomatoes, and grapes. When Jim was three, he went missing in the vineyard, perhaps early foreshadowing of his affection for red wine. He was too short to be seen over the vines, and to make matters worse, he was wearing all green. The perfect camouflage. It took the family quite a long time to find him.

The family moved several more times during Jim’s childhood. From Niagara to Etobicoke in 1961, then to North York a couple of years later before moving yet again to Thornhill, where Jim spent the rest of his elementary and secondary school years. It was as teenagers that Jim and Leanne first came into orbit of one another. They went to the same high school but ran with different circles of friends. Though neither knew it yet, each had already crossed paths with their soulmate.

Jim studied economics at York University from 1975 to 1979, arming himself with the knowledge and skills he would need for the many ambitious projects that lay ahead. He also planted the seeds of friendships that brought him tremendous joy and endured the test of time. Those who had the privilege of calling Jim a friend know what an incredible and unique gift that friendship was. He was a glass-half-full type of guy, but it was much more than that. Jim somehow always seemed to know just the right way to fill the glass of a friend who needed some topping up. A good meal, a glass of red, a round of golf: these were some of the frequent settings for the thousands of meaningful, supportive, and insightful conversations he had over the course of his life.

After graduating from York, Jim began his career in radio. From 1979 to 1982, at Telemedia Ontario, he engineered Toronto Blue Jays home game broadcasts alongside legendary sports broadcaster Tom Cheek and Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn. From 1982 to 1989 he served as Sales Manager, and later Director of Operations, at CFNY-FM (now 102.1 The Edge). Following CFNY’s move to the CN Tower in 1983, the station found itself competing in the much larger and increasingly complex Toronto radio market. During a challenging period for the station, Jim took on greater operational responsibility and helped guide an effort to broaden its audience while maintaining its commitment to introducing listeners to new music. Jim’s efforts helped the station make it through that period, and he handled the situation with the practical business judgement and steady leadership that would characterize the rest of his career.

As significant as that work was, something even more special was unfolding alongside it. Leanne was also working in radio, and once again she and Jim found themselves in each other’s orbit. This time, there was no stopping the gravitational pull between them. They married on August 10th, 1985, and within five years had moved to Bolton where they raised their two boys, Jason and Dylan. These boys grew up in a home overflowing with love. Jim and Leanne were the perfect teammates and together they indeed built the life they’d both dreamed about. The two sailed skillfully, and gracefully (and — on many occasions — literally) through life’s ups and downs. Jim had an unshakable commitment to his sweetheart Leanne, and she to him. His love for her was clear in both his actions and his words. Jim would never leave home without first telling Leanne he loved her, and kissing her goodbye. It was surely no easy task to ensure their boys always felt safe and secure given Jim’s dynamic career, but Jim and Leanne had a love so strong that, to the boys, it all seemed effortless.

In 1990, Jim’s ambitious entrepreneurial drive was officially unleashed on the world when he co-founded Zenox Communications (later DCCI and Telmetrics), leading it as President and CEO for its first eleven years. Zenox pioneered technology that connected computer applications with telephone networks, laying important groundwork for the modern call-tracking industry and allowing marketing companies and phone directories to prove exactly which advertisements were making the phone ring.

The years that followed were filled with a healthy dose of professional trial and error as Jim experimented and explored — searching for his next thing. He took the opportunity to dedicate even more time to his family. Jim was a tremendously supportive and loving father. He also gave generously to the communities he lived in, and was like a second father to many of his sons’ friends. From building a rink in their backyard when the boys could barely skate to coaching each of their hockey teams many times throughout the years. From taking Jay and Dyl to see their favourite punk rock bands in concert when they were little, to setting up a basement jam space for their band rehearsals (and parties of epic proportions). He took genuine interest in absolutely anything his boys shared with him. No matter how crazy things were professionally, any time Jay or Dyl needed council, he was there. Both boys shared many nights in the hot tub with their dad, staring at the stars — or on the family room couch gazing into the fire their dad had built — conversing about life’s biggest questions and deepening their connection. Jim’s boys have always admired and looked up to him. Jay and Dyl cherish these and many other memories they have with him during those formative years of their lives. They feel incredibly fortunate to forever have him as their dad, as they know he will always be there for them in a starry night sky, or in the warm glow of a fire.

In 2007, with awareness of global warming rising, Jim was paying attention. He co-founded H2Green Energy Corporation, and got to work. It was the beginning of nearly two decades in Canada’s renewable energy sector. He joined Ameresco in 2011, spending six years as a Client Solutions Developer and six more as a Vice-President, and served as Chair of Energy Storage Canada. From 2024 to 2026 he was President of Rodan Distributed Energy Resources, where he and his son Dylan worked side by side. Jim leaves behind a professional legacy defined by visionary leadership in pioneering utility-scale battery storage and advanced microgrid systems in Canada. He spent two decades shaping progressive policy, championing distributed energy resources, and laying a lasting, sustainable foundation that will help advance Canada’s energy storage sector for years to come. His colleagues will remember him as an invaluable trailblazer for Canada’s energy transition.

Jim’s work ethic was formidable, but his passion for enjoying life outside of work was just as strong — if not even greater. He had many hobbies and interests. From sailing to squash. From solving sudoku puzzles to playing scrabble (Jim was known for playing suspiciously-spelled words). From eating butter tarts to baking birthday cakes. From hosting new years eve parties to heading south for some time on the beach. From cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs in his team jersey and hat to cranking his favourite records on his stereo. From skiing trips to cycling adventures (frequently also in his ski suit). Throughout it all, he laughed and smiled and made those around him smile.

His last few months were some of the happiest of his life. He was living life to the fullest. You could feel his excitement as he spoke about what his next venture would look like, but his top priority was clearly enjoying each day doing what he loved most, with the people he loved most. On many occasions in his last weeks, Jim spoke with Leanne about the tremendous gratitude he felt for “how good things are.” He treasured the quality time he was having each day with his soulmate. He had recently become the proud grandfather of a beautiful baby girl. He was golfing several times a week with many of his favourite people, and said one of the courses was the most beautiful he had ever played.

It was a perfect sunny morning on Saturday, July 25th when Jim set out on a bike ride with his son Jason and a friend. Jim and Jason had looked forward to completing this ride together for years. The three of them rode the Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail from Barrie to Orillia, where they stopped for cinnamon buns, coffee, and a few laughs before turning back. On the way home, while riding beside his son, Jim’s heart suddenly gave out — a heart that had never been fuller than it was that morning.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Dick and Doris Fonger; his father-in-law Jack Schaefer and mother-in-law Shirley Schaefer; and his brother-in-law David Garrick.

A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026, from 1–3 PM at Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen Street South (Hwy. 50), Bolton (905-857-2213). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com