Meet Jake
A page for people that love Jake Thompson.
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Orangeville
Jake has lived in a lot of places over the years, but Orangeville will always be home. Orangeville is where Jake grew up and where he has chosen to spend the remainder of his time. There is a lot we could say about this community, but two things in particular stand out: music and lacrosse.
Jake developed a love for lacrosse early on, following in the footsteps of three generations of lacrosse loving Thompson men (Jake’s grandfather and great-grandfather are both in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame).
Jake started playing lacrosse at age 3 for the Brampton Excelsiors. Once his family settled in Orangeville, Jake played for the Northmen through the Minor (routinely beating BJ and the Fergus Thistles, if anyone was wondering) and Junior Ontario box lacrosse leagues. Jake also played for Edge lacrosse, and won a Gold Medal along with Offensive MVP honors at the Canadian field lacrosse championship during his Midget year–Not bad!
Off the field, music brought (and continues to bring) the Orangeville community together. Thanks in large part to his parents, Lynda and Greg, Jake grew up with an ear for music. He took guitar lessons for a couple of years, but fine-tuned his skills jamming with friends and family late into the evenings. Jake played on and off throughout high school and college and would join Lynda on stage at bars back home.
Despite the fact that ALS is making it more difficult to play guitar, Jake plans to record an album of both original songs he’s written over the years and some classic rock favorites.
We’re always looking forward to the next jam session around the fire with Orangeville friends and family.
Have photos you want to share? Send them to: sara@onebead.org, Subject line: JJ Orangeville
WRA Pioneers
After grade, 10, Jake left home to play lacrosse at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio.
Highlights include: Helping lead the lax team to become ranked in the Top 25 nationally, van rides to Kent State for hockey practice, trip to the Czech for hockey, getting lapped by BJ in cross-country (but not really, Jake just created short cuts through long grass, he’s not that tall), the triple bunk, the movie room, Nerf dunk contests (RIP second-hand furniture), North Hall in general, and playing mini-lax in the dorms. In other words, midwest lacrosse was kind of a big deal, but there was no shortage of shenanigans with teammates off the field. In stark contrast to the prep-school stereotypes, Jake proudly leaned into his blue-collar Canadian persona. He chose ‘fun and funny’ above all else, while still managing to excel in school–which must have really infuriated some faculty and classmates.
The most valuable thing Jake took away from his years at WRA were the relationships he built with amazing people who continue to be some of his closest friends.
Have photos you want to share? Send them to: sara@onebead.org, Subject line: JJ Pioneers
Cornell
After graduating from WRA, Jake received an athletic scholarship to play lacrosse at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Again, Jake thrived–his adventurous personality and relentless sense of humor acted as a magnet to all who got to know him. Jake quickly surrounded himself with another group of buddies who provided a home away from home.
Jake played lacrosse at Cornell for all four years and ultimately graduated with a degree in Film Studies.
*The first response Jake got from a Cornell teammate after telling them about his ALS was “so is that why you could never get top-side on me in practice?” Yes 6’2 brick wall, that’s why.
Have photos you want to share? Send them to: sara@onebead.org, Subject line: JJ Reds
Post-Grad Career
Fun Fact: Most people don’t know that Jake’s first job out of college was working on an oil rig in Alberta.
After college, Jake returned to Canada with big aspirations and a hurting bank account, so he headed out west to work on the oil rigs of Alberta for several months with a couple of buddies. For those that don’t know much about that line of work, it was a cushy job with easy hours and kind, forgiving foremen...Just kidding, it was Hell–but paid well!
After proving he was an Ivy grad who could tough it out with the roughnecks, Jake headed back to Ontario to pursue a great opportunity in film. There, he found yet another new home–this time in Peterborough, working on the hunting documentary television show, “Canada in the Rough”.
For five amazing years, Jake traveled across Canada, filming in beautiful (and remote) forests and mountains. It was here that Jake honed his craft as a producer and a true creative mind. In his free time, he spent countless hours mastering his favorite songs on guitar and coming up with his own originals. He also worked on his scriptwriting, growing concepts for original (and often hilarious) screenplays.
Fast forward a few years–Jake and his brother, Zack, now have their own video production company, Bumpy Road Productions, based in Mono. Owning and operating a business has been an exciting new challenge. Jake and Zack have produced some great work already and have more passion projects on the way–one of which being a series that meshes lacrosse and comedy–Keep an eye out for links to those soon!
Jackie
While in Peterborough, Jake met another amazing group of friends, not to mention the love of his life, Jackie.
Jake and Jackie lived just a block away from each other, but quickly realized that wasn’t close enough. Shortly after moving in together, their blossoming love was put to the ultimate test when Jake’s brother, Zack, unpacked his clothes in the front half of Jake and Jackie’s duplex.
With the help of free concerts by the lake, jam sessions in the living room, parties in the backyard shed, and relentless Forrest Gump quoting, Jake and Jackie’s love for each other grew and the two became unstoppable.
Then, in 2019, Jackie landed her dream job with the Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) LaunchPad charity program. The two decided to give city-life a chance and moved into a small apartment just outside of Toronto. Jackie thrived in her new role and Jake found work in the Toronto film industry when he could (like on set with “Top Chef Canada”...free knives, what a perk!).
Despite working in the big city, Jake and Jackie took every opportunity to escape the concrete jungle in search of fresh air and open trails. Most notably, Jake and Jackie took on some of the parks out in California at Big Sur, Joshua Tree, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. As for cottage weekends spent with family and friends nearby, there have been unforgettable memories made (and maybe some forgotten) in Bancroft, Parry Sound, Tobermory and Mont Tremblant.
Not long before Jake’s diagnosis, Jake and Jackie moved back towards Orangeville to live with Jake’s dad, Greg, on his beautiful property in Mono with their new golden-doodle, Lou (Lou is short for Lieutenant Dan from Forrest Gump, of course). The Thompson’s have considered Jackie an irreplaceable part of the family for a while now, but Jake made things official by proposing in February (2021).
Jake and Jackie’s most recent adventure has been taking on the Bruce Trail with their trusty tour guide, Lou. At 900 kilometers, the Bruce Trail is considered Canada’s oldest and longest footpath, running from Tobermory all the down to Niagara in Ontario. As of May, the three of them have completed sections of the trail totaling about 75 kilometers.
Jake and Jackie, along with an incredible community of family and friends, are hopeful that they can make the most of their lives together by traveling the continent and reconnecting with all the amazing people that Jake has met and surrounded himself with over the years. There are tough days ahead, but those will be outnumbered by quality time spent with friends, family, and Lou while sitting around the fire playing music.
The Fam
Like Jake, the rest of the Thompson family is known for their love of lacrosse, music, and each other. Growing up, Jake was the cool, troublemaker big brother. Zack was “Zack the Maniac” (enough said). And Riley tiptoed around their mistakes, letting his big brothers learn lessons the hard way. Jake’s Dad, Greg, coached the boys on and off the field, and Jake’s mom, Lynda, was an elementary school teacher, coach, and tutor for the boys and their friends. Over the years, Jake, Zack, and Riley went their separate ways for school, but the distance only made them closer when everyone returned home.
Then 2020 arrived. Just as COVID-19 struck the world, Lynda began struggling in her 5-year battle with cancer. Jake and Jackie moved back home along with Zack, Megan (Zack’s girlfriend), and Riley to help Greg care for Lynda during her final months. Together, they showered Lynda with love and music just as she did for all of them over the course of her beautiful life.
Shortly after Lynda passed, Jake channeled his energy and creativity into work, starting his own production company, “Bumpy Road Productions”. The name is a tribute to the mantra that Lynda used throughout her battle with breast cancer–it’s just a bump in the road. Jake has always had a knack for thoughtful gift giving, and starting a company in his Mom’s memory is no exception.
During this time, Jake began having issues with his legs, which he assumed had to do with nagging hip or knee injuries from years of hard-nosed lacrosse play. Problems with stability were often laughed off with the assumption that he would get it fixed eventually (“Come on, legs!” became a common joke by Jake when struggling to get up).
Eventually, Jake sought out attention from doctors and specialists. After several frustrating months filled with extensive testing and ambiguous responses, Jake finally received a diagnosis: ALS.
The truth was crushing. It still is. But, with the unwavering support of his family (both immediate and extended), Jake has managed to ease the worries of all who care about him by remaining happy and hopeful for what the future will bring.
