Jake’s Community
A look at the places, adventures, and people who have been a part of Jake’s journey so far…
Brampton—Orangeville
Born in Brampton, ON, Jake grew up in Orangeville with his parents, Greg and Lynda, and younger brothers, Zack and Riley.
Despite his stature, Jake was the natural athlete, cool big brother growing up. And his quick wit and knack for fun has always matched his easy-going attitude towards life.
Jake developed a love for lacrosse early on, following in the footsteps of three generations of lacrosse loving Thompson men (his grandfather and great-grandfather both being in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame).
He started playing for the Brampton Excelsiors at the age of 3 before his family settled in Orangeville, where he played for the Northmen through the Minor and Junior Ontario box lacrosse leagues. He also played for Edge lacrosse, and won a Gold Medal along with Offensive MVP honors at the Canadian field lacrosse championship his Midget year. Not bad!
And while Jake’s next adventures kept him away from home for some time, there is no doubt that family always was and always will be a cornerstone to his journeys.
WRA
In 2006, Jake left home to attend Western Reserve Academy, a boarding school in Hudson, OH. While fulfilling his dreams to play lacrosse at the highest level on this nationally ranked high school lacrosse program, there was no shortage of shenanigans off the field. Jake proudly leaned into his blue-collar Canadian persona at Reserve, always choosing ‘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. That, and the realization that he could finally grow a beard (and he’s never looked back).
Cornell
Jake went on to play lacrosse at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Again Jake thrived–his adventurous personality and relentless sense of humor seem to act as a magnet to all who get 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 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 diagnosis was “so is that why you could never get top-side on me in practice?”. Yes 6’2 brick wall, that’s why.
Back up North
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 career in the film industry. Jake’s next adventure brought him to Peterborough to work on the hunting documentary television show, “Canada in the Rough”. For five amazing years, Jake traveled across Canada, filming in its most beautiful and remote forests and mountains.
He again made more special relationships, and honed his craft as a producer and a true creative mind.
Jackie
While in Peterborough Jake met another amazing group of friends, reconnected with old buddies, and met 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 endless Forrest Gump quoting, Jake and Jackie’s love for each other grew until the two became unstoppable.
In 2019, Jackie landed her dream job with the MSLE LaunchPad charity program. The two decided to give city-life a chance and moved into a small apartment just outside of Toronto where Jackie thrived in her new role and Jake found work in the Toronto film industry (like on set with “Top Chef Canada”...free knives, what a perk!).
2020—Present
Right as COVID-19 struck the world, Jake’s mom, Lynda, faced the worst of her 5-year battle with cancer. Jake and Jackie moved back to Orangeville to help care for Lynda during her final months. Together with Greg, Riley, Zack and Megan, they showered her with love and music just as she had been doing 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 was noticing more and more symptoms that would lead to his eventual diagnosis of ALS. It began with walking issues, which he assumed had to do with nagging hip or knee injuries from his years of hard-nosed lacrosse play. While his stability and control was slowly getting worse, it was often laughed off with the assumption that he would be getting it fixed eventually (“Come on, legs!” became a common joke by Jake when struggling to get up). After several frustrating months of seeing different specialists, hearing varying opinions, and no clarifying answers, Jake finally received word that the worst case scenario was now his reality.
It has been a long path to realizing the truth about what had been developing in Jake’s body, and although that truth is a crushing one, it has caused Jake and his loved one’s to no longer take anything in life for granted. How Jake took the news, and how he shared it with his loved ones, has been incredibly empowering. He has managed to ease the worries of all who care about him by remaining hopeful, happy, and excited for what the future will bring despite his diagnosis.
Jake and Jackie now live with Jake’s Dad, Greg, and their golden-doodle, Lou, in Mono (Lou is short for Lieutenant Dan from Forrest Gump, of course).
With the degenerative nature of ALS, all physical actions will inevitably become less and less in Jake’s control. Despite this, Jake and Jackie are dedicated to maintaining an active lifestyle for as long as possible. Their eyes are currently set on completing the 900km Bruce Trail–which, fortunately, passes nearly right through Greg’s property.
Jake also loves music and is an avid guitar player, at his happiest jamming around the campfire with drinks and friends. While it is becoming more difficult to play due to ALS’ effect on his fingers, Jake also plans to record an album of both original songs he’s written over the years and classic rock favorites.
Zack has now officially joined forces at Bumpy Road Productions and Riley is finally moving back home after teaching and coaching in the states. The gang will be back together, and all of Jake’s loved ones are ready and willing to take on these next adventures together.
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. Jake and Jackie are now happily engaged, just bought a house down the road from Greg, and have their eyes set on the next set of adventures.
Please help us write this next chapter together as we all Join Jake!
