Jack Leitch, former president of Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. has passed away at the age of 99. Jack’s father, Gordon Leitch, founded what started as The Northland Shipping Company in 1932 with one ship.
Jack became president in 1954 and took over operations of what became Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., which over the years grew into one of the three largest Great Lakes shipping companies in Canada, including subsidiaries of Port Weller Dry Docks, and Heritage Pointe, a land development company and golf course near Calgary, Alberta. As Chairman of the company, Jack introduced innovative ship designs and pioneered the development of large vessels with self-unloading capability. His activities in the industry have helped to maintain and develop merchant shipping in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. He was also the founding director of the Board of Governors of the Chamber of Maritime Commerce.
