Ken first visited Thetis Island as a member of the search committee for Pioneer Pacific Camp. InterVarsity was looking for a new site reasonably close to Vancouver. Contact was made with Adam Hunter who was willing to give some of his property for a Christian camp. Ken remembers a meeting in the Hunter’s old farmhouse with Adam and Marge and a “gang of boys scrambling around”. At the time Thetis did not even have ferry service so there was a lot of concern about providing transportation but the thinking was that this would change before too long. Ken, Fred Linsey, and Neil McKay came to Thetis for work parties at the new camp and as a result of their friendship with Adam they all bought lots in 1958.
Ken was born in Vancouver and lived there all his life. His career involved business and property development both in Vancouver and Vancouver Island. He was a man of vision and action, and was instrumental in starting up Calling Foundation (which built Parkdale Manor and Blenheim Lodge in Vancouver), Regent College at UBC, Pioneer Camps on both Thetis Island and at Chehalis, Chemainus Theatre and Honeymoon Bay Lodge & Retreat Centre.
Ken was the driving force behind the founding and development of the Chemainus Theatre in 1993 and, with his wife Ruth, stood faithfully behind it, seeing it through to present-day maturity.
He was passionate about theatre and inspirational to artists and staff, while serving for many years as Board Chair. Ken played a lead role in all of the Theatre’s campaigns and capital projects over the first 25 seasons – including the construction of the Theatre’s Production Centre and the development of the Chemainus Best Western Hotel.
Ken had a substantial impact to the arts in BC. The Theatre has grown to become the third largest producing theatre in BC, drawing 75,000 theatre goers per year. Over its first 25 seasons, over 4,000 artists, actors, and directors worked at the Theatre while creating plays for over 1.3 million attendees. His last public outing was attending the Theatre’s 25th season celebration on June 23rd, 2017 and the family will forever cherish the long and enthusiastic standing ovation that the packed house gave Ken when his enormous contributions were recognized.
Ken’s best family times were with Ruth, his children (Graham, Carol and Sharon) and grandchildren at the cottage on Pilkey Point. He and Fred Linsey helped each other build their cottages over several years. They then embarked on building a natural tidal swimming pool in the rocks. Ken loved to garden and really enjoyed growing flowers. He was a formidable scrabble player right up until a few months before he passed. In the last few years his body gradually started to fail as he lost hearing, vision, mobility and energy. He never complained and thankfully was not in pain. When saying goodbye he would often say “If I don’t see you again, I’ll see you at the great banquet in heaven”.
Ken will be remembered as a kind, generous, humble, enthusiastic, and dedicated man, both at home and in his various projects. A Celebration of Life was held on December 2nd, 2017 at Granville Chapel in Vancouver. His ashes were interred at St. Margaret’s Cemetery on April 29th, 2018. Many thanks to Suzanne Sarioglu who was incredibly helpful with the final arrangements at the Cemetery.