Jim Fencott’s commitment to the international community may have stemmed from his childhood. Jim was born in Malaya, Borneo (now Malaysia) and went to school in Burma (now Myanmar), including the University of Rangoon.
Jim’s teaching career was primarily in Ontario–at Uxbridge H.S. and at R.H. King S.S. and Stephen Leacock C.I. in Scarborough. He was mathematics department head in both Scarborough schools. In fact he leaves an important legacy in that borough.
Jim was a founder of the Scarborough Association of Mathematics Educators and originated the Scarborough Mathematics League. The “Jim Fencott Award” is presented annually to a graduating student in Scarborough who has made a significant improvement in mathematics.
Jim was active in promoting the University of Waterloo’s Co-operative Mathematics Teaching Program, and was a life member of O.E.A.
After his retirement, Jim spent parts of several years training teachers in The Gambia. He died while working as a volunteer teacher in Togo, in 1987.