A.J.M. (Ton) Zuijdwijk, LL.M., M.I.A., S.J.D.
It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Ton Zuijdwijk, a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather, a loyal friend and a dedicated academic. Ton passed on October 16, 2025, at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, integrity and love.
Ton is survived by his wife, Karen Coupland; his children from his first marriage, Anneke Zuijdwijk (Eric Knight) and Caroline Zuijdwijk (Ruwan Jayasuriya); his grandchildren, Olivia and Penelope Knight and Savi and Vian Jayasuriya; his step-children, Kristen Coupland (David Moore) and Jason Coupland; his step-grandchildren James Moore and Aidan Moore; and his sister Anneke (Ruud Von Tol) who lives in the Netherlands. He was predeceased by his younger brother Jan (Annette) who died in the Netherlands on November 17, 2024.
Ton was born on February 9, 1946 and grew up in The Hague. From an early age he was an avid student of world politics and history. Ton had Master of Law degrees from the University of Leiden (Netherlands) and Columbia University (NYC). He received his Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D) from the University of Toronto.
In the early years of his career, he taught law at the University of Leiden and McGill University. This was followed by a long and distinguished career in international trade law at the Government of Canada where he conducted trade litigation before the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland. He also participated in negotiations on many of Canada’s Free Trade Agreements. Ton had a deep commitment to and respect for the established rules of international law, which provide the norms for not only economic relations and but also human rights.
Throughout most of Ton’s career he taught the course in European Union Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. After his retirement from the Public Service in 2017 he also taught the course in International Trade Law for several years. Ton loved teaching and had planned to teach the EU Law course one last time in the fall of 2025 before illness befell him.
His many trips to Geneva during his career were almost always combined with a few days in the Netherlands visiting with his sister and brother and their respective families. This helped to bridge the distance between them and allowed them to maintain close ties through the years.
Ton was especially proud of his two girls, Anneke and Caroline and their respective families. Getting together with them was one of his greatest joys in life. Ton’s illness brought the whole family together in a manner that has strengthened the family relationships not only here in Canada, but also with his family in Netherlands. This is the gift that Ton has left us all.
Funeral will be held in the Sacred Space at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services on October 23, 2025 at 10:00 am. Reception will follow.
Digital Guestbook
Alexandra Lamont
Déric Dubien
I had the privilege of working closely with Ton early in my career on several trade negotiations. Beyond his unmatched intellect, Ton was remarkably patient and thoughtful, always generous with his time—even when I asked the most naïve of questions. His mentorship left a lasting impression on me, not only professionally but personally. I learned a great deal from him, including the value of kindness. I am deeply saddened by his passing and extend my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
France Silvestre
My deepest condolences to Ton’s family. I had the privilege of working with Ton in the Trade Law Bureau years ago, and I will always remember his beautiful smile and kind, warm nature. He truly made a positive impact on those around him.
Louis Pauly
Ton was a friend back in the late 1970s. We met at the Newman Centre connected with McGill University. Ton was teaching in the McGill Law School, and I was working at the Royal Bank of Canada. Ton invited me to write a couple of book reviews for the McGill Law Journal he was editing at the time. It is no exaggeration to say that those reviews led years later to my working on the staff of the International Fund, to my decision to go back to graduate school, and in 1987 to my appointment as a professor of international relations and political economy at the University of Toronto. He opened a door, I walked through it, and I have been grateful ever since then. I told him so during his days in government service. What I always recalled most of all was his kindness. May he rest in peace.
Jay
I am so sad I did not have the chance to say goodbye. Ton had so much compassion and was an incredible colleague, mentor and friend. I will always be grateful for the time we shared as colleagues, and throughout his retirement over coffee or lunch. He was a really good listener and had so much wisdom to share, and he sure made me laugh. To his family and loved ones, please accept my deepest condolences.
Sébastien Beaulieu
Ton was an amazing colleague, a generous source of knowledge -- insightful, calm and kind -- as I had the pleasure of working with him when I joined the legal profession and the public service at Global Affair's Trade Law Bureau in 1998. Merci Ton.
John Clifford
During my years in the Trade Law Bureau, Ton always communicated his formidable expertise in a kind, focussed manner. His steady work augmented JLT's formidable capacity.
Meg Kinnear
Ton was one of the first people I met at JLT and was always a wonderful colleague and friend. He was the professor both literally, but also in how much he shared with his colleagues and clients - always patiently and wisely. I am so sorry for your loss, but certainly a life well lived.
Leslie McDermott
This is such sad news, Ton was taken too soon. I had the absolute pleasure to work with Ton in the Trade Law Bureau at Global Affairs in 2008. He was always kind and patient. When I think of Ton I can actually remember the way he walked through the halls at Global Affairs he walked with such purpose. I can't pick up a product and read the label without thinking of Ton. My condolences to all of Ton's family and friends.
Bill Bryson
Ton was an island of peace and common sense in an office that, by its nature, often seemed to be immersed in one crisis or another. In addition to his obvious legal talents that bought an enormous value to the office and all its personnel.
It was always a pleasure to encounter Tom in the halls of the department. My condolences to his family.