Kenneth Henry (Ken) Medland
May 23, 1925 – July 24, 2013
It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Ken Medland, surrounded by his family, after a difficult illness, met with courage and fortitude. Ken was born in Chemainus, B.C. to Elinor Robertson and Henry Medland. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife, Marie, in December 2011. Ken is survived by devoted daughters, Dorina Medland and Darlene Collinson; very valued sons-in-law, Larry Dudeck and Ted Collinson. Three cherished grandchildren of whom he was extremely proud, also survive: Jill Collinson (Ben Lanthier), Alex Collinson, and Blair Dudeck. Also mourning his passing are special cousins: Lorraine Buchanan, Fred Smith, Sally and Lorne Rozzano. He further leaves countless life-long friends from his many community involvements over the years, and a large extended family.
Ken was raised by his grandmother, Anne Little Robertson, in Ladysmith, B.C. He attended Ladysmith High School where he excelled in academics, track and field, and softball. Ken attended U.B.C. and graduated from its first Pharmacy class in 1949. He and Marie were married that year and he began working for Cunningham Drugs, where he won the “Manager of the Year Award” four times. He became a manager of the Terminal Park store which later became Shoppers Drug Mart. Ken retired in 1985 and he and Marie were able to travel extensively in Canada, Europe, the United States, China, Israel and Mexico. At retirement, he and Marie were then freed up to attend the activities of their three grandchildren. Ken spent countless hours attending their games and other activities and giving them encouragement whenever he could.
During his professional career Ken was also actively involved in civic politics as an Alderman (1965 – 1975) and was made a Freeman of the City of Nanaimo in 2009. He served on the newly amalgamated Nanaimo City Council and the Nanaimo Regional District. Ken was secretary of the Nanaimo Timbermen’s Lacrosse team when it won the Mann Cup in 1956 and president of the Nanaimo Labatt’s Lacrosse team when it won the 1960 B.C. Championship. He was inducted with the Timbermen in Nanaimo’s First Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Ken was a board member of the BC College of Pharmacists from 1986–1990 and was a 1986 recipient of the A.H. Robbins “Bowl of Hygea Award” that recognizes pharmacists for community service.
Ken was a lifetime member of the Nanaimo Lions Club, since 1952, serving as president in 1965/66 and the Nanaimo Curling Club, participating fully for over 60 years and was a past president. He was also a vice-president of the Pacific Coast Masters Curling Association. He continued curling and volunteering right up to December 2012.
Ken was also a member of the Nanaimo Probus Investment Club for many years and had served as vice chair. Ken enjoyed the game of golf but his passion was curling. In 1998 he travelled with his great friend, Nori Nishio, to Scotland to participate in the Strathcona Cup, representing Canada which won that year. Ken organized many bonspiels over the years but he especially enjoyed the Nanaimo Family Bonspiel and relished being the oldest curler participating each year, with his immediate family, for over ten years. Ken believed in respect and equality for all people and he instilled these values in his daughters and grandchildren by modeling them throughout his life. He had a great sense of humour, loved to tell jokes and always did a stand-up performance at the Senior Men’s Curling wind-up. Ken had an outgoing personality and loved to meet new friends wherever he went which continued right up to the end of his life.
A Celebration of Life will take place at the Nanaimo Curling Centre, 106 Wall Street, Nanaimo, BC on Thursday, August 1st at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations in Ken’s memory may be made to the Nanaimo Curling Centre, 106 Wall Street, Nanaimo, BC or the Nanaimo Lions Club (larriet@shaw.ca or jim-wilson@shaw.ca), or the charity of your choice.
“Just as the sun will set then rise with each and every dawn, the souls of those
who lived life well, eternally live on.”