- words of Judy Thomson

"With great sadness and sense of loss, I write to let you know that dear Ken has died. Kevin (Cheryl), Andrew and Catherine (Andrew) were with us on Tuesday, March 1st as he peacefully slipped away. He was 85. Ken is survived by his brother John Thomson of Vancouver, his sister Maija Thomson Read of Chicago, and predeceased by his sister Joan Thomson.

Because of WW2, Ken was in the care of Children’s Aid, Toronto. His birth father was a “Barnardo Boy”, doing farm work in Ontario. Later he was a British soldier in the Second World War. At 8, Ken found love and trust with his adoptive parents Doris and Dave Thomson, and went on to lead a productive, rewarding and varied life.

He was a dedicated teacher, Head of the English Department at the former West Hill Secondary School, Owen Sound. He introduced and taught new curriculum, directed and produced school plays, and taught in an innovative way — striding from desktop to desktop to punctuate a Shakespearean soliloquy, admonishing students to “substantiate their allegations” when developing an argument and daily challenging everyone to use a new word - from a list he regularly updated. Have you used the word ‘implacable’ lately?

As well as teaching, Ken won a seat on Owen Sound City Council, chaired the Grey-Owen Sound Children’s Aid Society, helped found the Billy Bishop Heritage, chaired the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, and sat on the Board of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery.

But, as many of you know, Ken’s greatest interest was to provide the people of Owen Sound and Grey County with affordable housing. He believed that a house gave a person or a family a sense of place, as well as a sense of pride. With this firm foundation, they could build a rewarding life. He chaired the Board of Owen Sound Non-Profit Housing for 32 years. This Board has provided over 350 new units of housing for our area."

For more information on Ken's life, to read his full obituary, or view funeral arrangements please visit this link: https://woodfuneralhome.ca/.../Ken-Thomson/obituary.html...

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery. Donations can be made via Brian E Wood Funeral Home or directly to the Gallery.

Image Credit: Ken and his wife Judy Thomson in their home in Owen Sound in January 2019. Photo by Denis Langlois of the Owen Sound Sun Times.