A graduate of McGill University, Jim West began his career in the music business in the early 1970’s as a road manager for a Montreal based rock group. In 1983 he founded Justin Time Records Inc, home to such artists as Oliver Jones, Ranee Lee, Diana Krall, Oscar Peterson, the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, Halie Loren, Laura Anglade, David Murray and hundreds of others.
In addition to Jim’s own corporate responsibilities, he has also been actively involved in the Canadian music industry participating on many industry-related boards: former Chair of both Factor {Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings} and CIMA {Canadian Independent Music Association} as well as a director of CARAS (Canadian Association of Recording Arts and Sciences} and the Radio Starmaker board. In 2001 Jim West received the honour of “Producer of the Year” from the National Jazz Awards,” and in 2004, he received the Canadian Music Week “Hall of Fame Award”, 2016 the Bruce Lundvall Award from the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal (Music industry award) and in 2018 the “Industry Builder Award” from the Canadian Independent Music Association. In 2022 Jim was appointed to the Order of Canada. Today he occupies his time by running Wild West Artist Management.