Jacqueline Elizabeth Tam has died. After a brief illness, the celebrated storyteller and communicator born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, passed away in St. Albert, Alberta, on Monday, July 20, 2026. She was 66.

Jacqui is mourned by her husband of 46 years, Peter; their son Kenneth and daughter-in-law Jeannine; brother Steve Barron; her cherished friends of the Reid family; and by countless other dear friends and extended family all across Canada, the United States and Germany. She joins her father, Richard Joseph Barron, and mother, Mary Louise Barron in a new adventure, beyond a bright horizon. 

In addition to traveling for photography adventures with Peter, sewing, and birdwatching, Jacqui was the founder and Senior Partner of Iceberg Publishing, Owner and Principal of Magnitude Strategies, creator of BARRTA Style, and an experienced professional communicator.

She served as the chief storyteller for the University of Alberta, Wilfrid Laurier University, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teacher’s Association, and several other organizations across a forty year career. Her work won numerous awards, the most cherished of which was an IPPY Silver Medal for the memoir Standing Tall: A Daughter’s Gift –– Iceberg Publishing’s first title, which for more than twenty-five years has given hope to sons and daughters grieving their parents. 

In that book, she wrote:

What wonderful memories you have given us. What a wonderful legacy of strength, respect and love.

Though those words were written for her father, they embody her life too. 

In honour of her memory, Iceberg Publishing is making the ebook edition of A Daughter’s Gift permanently available at no cost through this website and all participating platforms. Those who cherished Jacqui are invited to read her words and share them freely with anyone who might gain strength from them.

She will be dearly missed, but the stories she gave to the world will endure.