James Bartlett "Jim" Gillis

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of James Bartlett “Jim” Gillis — loving husband, father, grandfather, and a pinnacle of the land surveying profession.

Jim was born in London, Ontario, on August 3, 1952, to Donald Archibald Gillis and Mary Geraldine (Teed) Gillis. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Middleton, Nova Scotia, where he spent his formative years. He graduated from Middleton Regional High School before attending the Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute (now the College for Geographic Sciences) in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia.

Jim first qualified as a land surveyor in 1973, at the age of 21. Two years later, he founded James B. Gillis & Associates, which he operated for about a decade. Over the years, he also worked as a surveying consultant in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, as well as Saudi Arabia, Libya, Turkey, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia. He held commissions as a Nova Scotia Land Surveyor, a Canada Land Surveyor, and a Texas Registered Professional Land Surveyor, and earned certifications as an ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist and Certified Mapping Scientist–Lidar.

From 1985 to 1987, Jim worked on Parliament Hill in Ottawa as a legislative assistant to the Honourable Gerald Comeau, M.P., and the Honourable Tom Siddon, M.P.

For 52 years, Jim practiced surveying across three continents, performing field work from 78° North latitude to 58° South latitude, and from 52° East longitude to 177° West longitude. He fulfilled a lifelong dream when, on the eve of his 65th birthday, he summited Mount Kilimanjaro with his son Andrew. Together, they surveyed its highest point, determining it to have an elevation of 19,326 feet above mean sea level. 

As a member of the Texas Society of Professional Land Surveyors (TSPS), Jim served in numerous roles: Chairman of the Education Committee, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, member of the Tellers Committee, Parliamentarian, Board Member, Vice President, President-Elect, and ultimately President of TSPS. He taught countless classes for surveyors, becoming known as an expert in geodesy, map projections, and GNSS. Passionate about teaching, Jim inspired the next generation of surveyors as an adjunct and later full-time professor at Dallas College, where he taught surveying and mapping courses.

While living in Nova Scotia, Jim was active in the Nova Scotia Land Surveyors Association (ANSLS). After moving to Texas, he attended many ANSLS general meetings as a distinguished guest representing Texas and TSPS. In 2024, he was honored with a Life Member Award from ANSLS.

Jim and his wife, Flora Elizabeth (MacKinnon) Gillis, made their home in Trophy Club, Texas, and enjoyed summers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, near where he was born. He spent his leisure time hiking and exploring with his Valley Bulldog, “Buller,” and consulting for clients on GNSS technologies, geodesy, map projections, aerial lidar and mapping, and complex boundary surveying issues.

Jim was a proud father to his three sons and a devoted grandfather to his two granddaughters. He is survived by his wife, Flora; his children, James Bartholomew Gillis (wife Stacey Keller Gillis), Andrew Joseph Howe Gillis, and Breton William Alexander Gillis; grandchildren, Cameron Skye Gillis and Sydney Campbell Gillis; brothers, Bruce, Thom, Tim, Scott, and Shawn Gillis; and goddaughter, Katie MacDougall; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Melody Gillis and Heather Mary Gillis; and brother, Donald Gillis.

As per his wishes, cremation will take place.

“It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never

shone.” – John Steinbeck

Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Texas Surveyors Foundation, Inc. (TSFI) Scholarship Fund.

A celebration of life will be held in both North Texas and Nova Scotia, with details to be announced.