Remembering James Coates (1972 – 2010)

WUSC is saddened by the passing of former WUSC and Uniterra volunteer James Coates, who died this year while working in Haiti.

He was stationed in Port-au-Prince for the United Nations as an Information Management Assistant when the magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit on January 12th. His body was found over a week later.

James spent a year as a Development Worker for WUSC in Vietnam in 2003. The following year, he transitioned into a volunteer for Uniterra, working in the education sector as an ESL trainer.

Growing up in Deer Lake, James completed a Bachelors of Arts degree at Laval University and a degree from the London School of Journalism. With a passion for adventure and international development, James also worked as a junior TV editor in Toronto and had been working in Haiti for a year and half.

“James was made for development work. He was well liked by all, very agreeable to take on any task and got along well in the community, was involved in sports and other activities with Vietnamese colleagues and friends.”

– Elizabeth J. Noseworthy, friend and former colleague of James.