Jake Epp
Obituary
It is with much sorrow, but loving memories, that the family of Arthur Jacob “Jake” Epp, PC, OC, announce his passing on July 5, 2025, at the age of 85.
Jake Epp dedicated his life to service.
He was committed to serving his community, was passionate about serving his country, and believed in offering service to those in need here in Canada and around the world. More than anything, he was committed to his family. His wife Lydia, his beloved daughter Lisa Epp-Coleman and his cherished granddaughters Melissa and Mackenzie Coleman treasure his memory and are his most important legacy.
Born on September 1, 1939, in Manitoba, Jake was proud of his Mennonite heritage and would often, throughout his life, rely upon its traditions of integrity, caring, honesty and hard work.
While Jake had an early interest in politics, fondly remembering how he helped prepare a venue in Steinbach for a campaign visit by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker (someone he would become close friends with later in life), he began his professional life as a teacher. Teaching high school history in Steinbach, he took the passion he had for Canada and passed it along to his students.
He made his first step in elected life by running for Steinbach City Council, where he won a seat and began a life of public service. During his time on City Council, he honoured his love of learning and history by advocating for a public library in Steinbach. This early passion was recognized years later when a new public library was built in Steinbach and named the Jake Epp Public Library.
Not content on just teaching history, Jake set about making it when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Provencher in 1972. While he was not predicted to win that first federal election, he beat the odds and continued to do so for the next two decades that he served in the House of Commons in Ottawa.
Becoming the first Mennonite in Canada to be appointed to a federal Cabinet, he served in the government of Prime Minister Joe Clark and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. During his time in government, Jake held the Cabinet portfolios of Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Minister of National Health and Welfare and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. He was a respected Minister of the Crown and had the trust of those he served with.
It was in his role as Minister of National Health and Welfare that Jake would leave his most lasting positive impact on the lives of Canadians and many around the world. Having authored the paper “A Framework for Health Promotion- Achieving Health for All” he focused on reducing health inequities both nationally and internationally.
He began an aggressive campaign to lower the rate of smoking by limiting tobacco advertising and sponsorship as well as ending smoking in places such as commercial airlines. Despite fierce opposition by the tobacco industry at the time, his efforts are credited with starting the national and international trend toward reduced smoking rates.
Jake was also instrumental in the development of Canada’s first Level Four Containment Lab to help combat infectious disease. This lab, located in Winnipeg, has been recognized internationally with fighting the SARS virus and developing the world’s first Ebola vaccine that has saved lives around the world.
Jake’s belief in improving health for all was strongly focused on those who faced challenges and barriers. In Canada, he created new facilities and programs to help those with disabilities lead more independent lives. As Chair of the Pan American Health Organization, he led initiatives to better the health of mothers and infants in Latin America along with supporting anti illicit drug programs. He took a particular interest in seeing better treatment developed for patients with leprosy in countries like Paraguay which he visited and helped establish treatment centers to combat this devastating disease.
Jake was a strong believer in the power of giving. In the 1990’s he took that belief to Canada’s pharmaceutical industry and encouraged them to participate in the charitable donation of pharmaceuticals to needy nations and those suffering through natural disasters. Having secured their support, Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) was created. Jake served as HPIC Chairman for 10 years and remained as Chair Emeritus until his passing. Under his watch, over $700 million of quality medicines have been donated from Canadian pharmaceutical companies to communities in need around the world, touching the lives of over 30 million people.
Throughout his time in Parliament, Jake put the interests of the country and its future first. His support, while in opposition, of the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution was just one demonstration of this. Another was his leadership in the creation of “The Forks” in Winnipeg which he dreamed would become a meeting place for all people to enjoy and connect with others. That vision resulted in the creation of one of the most popular meeting places for generations of Manitobans and which today is home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
In 1993, Jake announced he would not be seeking re-election and he and Lydia took a step of faith into an unknown future. That path led Jake to being offered the position of Sr. Vice-President of TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. where he would serve until 2000. While Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jake had made regulation changes that fostered Canada’s offshore oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic ushering in new prosperity for the region. This new position took Jake around the world to help promote Canada as a place in which to invest and as a leader in energy. Later he was appointed by the Ontario government to be Chair of the Ontario Power Generation Corporation and was an early promoter of green energy.
Jake’s love for education remained throughout his life and was demonstrated when he was named Chancellor of Tyndale College in Toronto.
Long after he left Parliament, he continued to be called on to serve. In 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Jake to be part of a panel to advise Parliament on Canada’s future involvement in Afghanistan. Parliament accepted the panel’s report which recommended that continued involvement place greater emphasis on security and development of Afghanistan. This recommendation was in keeping with the priority that Jake placed on Canada’s role as a leader in peace, human rights and good governance.
During his life, Jake was bestowed numerous awards both nationally and internationally. Jake was the recipient of an Honourary Doctorate Degree from Trinity Western University; the Canadian Confederation 125 year Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. As well, in 2000 he was given Columbia’s highest recognition awarded to a foreign national- The Medal of Honour. The most notable of his recognitions was the prestigious Order of Canada in which he was named an Officer in 2010 by the Governor General of Canada.
Yet for all his accomplishments and awards, there were two things that he cherished the most, his faith and his family. Jake always believed strongly that people of faith should play an active role in public affairs and sought to demonstrate this with integrity and conviction. This was seen in how he conducted his public life but also in the private personal connections he made with people and how he demonstrated caring and compassion for those who were in need. Jake believed that Christians could make a difference in the world from the halls of Parliament to the community halls of rural Manitoba and he credited God for the many opportunities he had in life.
Above all, Jake took his greatest pride in his family. As a young girl, his daughter Lisa gave flowers to Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to Steinbach, but there was never a doubt who Jake’s princess was. His responsibilities often took him away from home but his dedication to his family was always present and that was returned as Lisa remained by Jake’s side till his last day as an ever ready support. In later years Jake would rarely speak of his own accomplishments but rather those of his granddaughters. He marveled at what Melissa and Mackenzie were achieving in their education and careers and his eyes would light up whenever he could share their accomplishments with others. His wife Lydia was both the love of his life and his life partner in all that he accomplished. His confidante and greatest supporter, they shared an incredible life of adventure and experiences.
The family thanks all those who shared in Jake’s life and who have offered condolences. His constituents, colleagues, friends and acquaintances all added to his extraordinary life and Jake would want you all to know he was grateful for you.
A visitation will be held Monday, July 21, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.
The memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Crossview Church, 345 Loewen Boulevard, Steinbach, MB.
