Hunter dedicated his life to raising funds for research through The James Hunter Family ALS Initiative

In 2009, James Hunter—one of Canada’s most respected financial entrepreneurs—was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that progressively destroys the nerve cells we need to walk, talk, swallow and breathe.

Hunter passed away after a courageous seven-year battle with the condition. During this time, Hunter dedicated his life to raising funds for research through The James Hunter Family ALS Initiative. To date, it has raised over $5 million to support research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and U of T’s Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

“Jim was committed to finding a cure to ALS, if not for him, then for the others who may face it in the future,” said Professor Janice Robertson, who researches the disease at the Tanz Centre. “He provided financial support to our lab, but also a reminder of the urgency of our work.” Robertson’s lab is named after Hunter.

“Jim really was an amazing man: courageous and brilliant. Along with his remarkable wife Heather and family, Jim had a big impact on me and the members of my lab. I’m going to miss him,” said Robertson.