Sept. 16, 1940 – Nov. 4, 2025
One of the most influential economists of his generation, Tom believed that ideas matter and over five decades he devoted his career to reshaping how Canada works. An innovative thinker, his work reflected a commitment to a prosperous and compassionate Canada.
This commitment came from his parents, Gen and Al, and his upbringing in the small town of Wakaw, Sask. Before leaving for graduate studies in 1962, Tom and Margie were married, and every summer the family (soon with three children) visited Wakaw and Candle Lake for a month of fishing and golf. The love of golf instilled by his father was transmitted down the generations, and Tom enjoyed countless hours golfing with his grandsons. Tom’s original spirit and his gift of “thinking outside the box” led to misadventures on and off the golf course, and all family gatherings included recounting these memories and creating new “Courchene stories.”
Tom completed his Ph.D. at Princeton University. From 1965 to 1988, Tom was Professor of Economics at the University of Western Ontario (with a post-doctoral year at the University of Chicago). He soon established himself as an often-controversial voice in the areas of monetary policy, financial institutions, fiscal policy, economic regionalism, energy policy, trade and migration. Tom’s work was multidisciplinary. A colleague noted that Tom had the ability to walk in everyone’s backyard. He also had the unique skill of anticipating issues that were still just over the horizon. He was Chair of the Ontario Economic Council, Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Tom could not say no when Conservative Leader Joe Clark invited him to run as candidate in London East in the 1979 federal election, but the voters said no!
Principal David Smith brought Tom to Queen’s in 1988 to serve as the inaugural Director of the School of Policy Studies (SPS) and Tom soon established the SPS as a central hub in a national policy network of academics and policymakers. From 1992 until his retirement in 2012, Tom held the Jarislowsky-Deutsch Chair in Economics and Financial Policy at Queen’s, was Director of the John Deutsch Institute and Director of the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations. He was also a Senior Scholar at the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Montreal. The SPS launched The Tom Courchene Distinguished Speakers Series in 2015 (funded by the Margie and Tom Courchene Endowment Fund). This series is available on the SPS website. In 2021 Tom was also honoured with the Queen’s Distinguished Service Award.
Tom inspired his students and they easily forgave him when he veered off-course. He was a dedicated doctoral candidate supervisor and mentor. A modest and humble man, he drew enormous pleasure from the gifts, talents, and successes of others, be they students, colleagues, or golfing partners, and recognized that he owed his success in large part to his colleagues at Western, Queen’s, and beyond, as well as his many mentors, especially Mary Janigan and Tom Kierans.
Not afraid to ruffle feathers, he was quite pleased when his work grabbed headlines. In 2004, the publication of his paper entitled “Confiscatory Equalization” got some attention and led directly to the federal government “giving back” $120 million to the government of Saskatchewan.
Tom received honorary doctorates from the University of Western Ontario, the University of Regina, and the University of Saskatchewan. U of S recognized Tom as one of its 100 Alumni of Influence in 2009. When Tom was awarded the Order of Canada in 1999, the citation noted that he was “one of the most influential economists of his generation in Canada.” That year he was also awarded the Molson Prize for his lifetime contributions to cultural and intellectual life in Canada.
A prolific writer, Tom was awarded the inaugural Donner Prize for the best Canadian book in public policy for From Heartland to North American Region State: The Social, Fiscal and Federal Evolution of Ontario (with Colin Telmer). Tom was pleased to have many family members and friends in attendance when he won his second Donner Prize in 2019 for Indigenous Nationals, Canadian Citizens: From First Contact to Canada 150 and Beyond.
Despite Tom’s hectic academic life, family time took centre stage, typically on the golf course. Spontaneous back and forth visits were an important part of life, and no invitation was too great or too small, whether finding a fishing lure, going on a trip, or hitting practice balls at the Garrison Golf Club.
In 2019 Tom was diagnosed with the early signs of dementia. Tom lived at home with Margie, retained his well-being, wit, good humour, positive approach to life and interest in and concern for others, and until the final week enjoyed visits and small walks unassisted. A sudden decline brought him to palliative care for the last week of his life. With family by his side, he slept. Our gratitude to Rev. Mary Smith who led the family in prayers and meditations, to the Bayshore TCU for their considerate and excellent care, and a special thanks to Tom’s PSWs whose cheerful morning presence and generous spirit brightened Tom and Margie’s life.
Tom will be missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Tom leaves his beloved family: his wife, Margie; his children, Rob (Cynthia), Teri (Glen), and John (Angel); nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his brother, Bob (Paulette); and sister, Ann-Marie; and their families.
