Ken Dobell was a man of great stature, not only in his physical being, but in his intellectual brilliance and his boundless generosity. His commitment to public service and in his devotion to his family were immense. Whenever you were with him, you were aware of the magnitude of his character. While some might have been initially intimidated by his forceful personality, they quickly discovered him to be an exceptionally kind, thoughtful, deeply humane and approachable person.

Born in Vancouver on November 11, 1940, he grew up in Kerrisdale, attending Kerrisdale, Point Grey Junior High School and Magee High School and, despite his tendency towards day-dreaming, he distinguished himself throughout his schooling, being named “Topper” in Grade Six, earning academic and service awards each of the following years and becoming President of the Student Council in Grade Twelve.

Ken’s generosity was evident from a young age when he frequently opened his penny bank to children he thought, often mistakenly, were less fortunate than he. This spirit of giving continued throughout his life. Always ready to assist a friend, offering support to many during difficult times, he consistently gave more than he ever asked for.

After graduating from UBC, where he was a notable football player and was a member of both the Sigma Chi and the Sigma Tau Chi (the men’s honorary) fraternities, Ken pursued graduate studies at Birmingham University. During his time in England, he married Pamela Jackson and welcomed his first child. On his return to Canada, Ken began his career at the City of Vancouver, eventually becoming City Manager and the first ever Chief Executive Officer at the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority (now Translink).

He was a key player in helping establish the E-Comm emergency communications system serving BC. Per his friend and colleague, Dave Mitchell, “He will always be known for so many things including E-Comm, which is a technical and operational success uniting the three emergency services with a shared radio network and supporting technologies. Quite simply, emergency services work better and more effectively because of his initiative.”

And Judy Rogers, who succeeded him as City Manager, said “Ken was instrumental in creating the regional emergency centre E-Comm, following the Stanley Cup riots, building of the Vancouver Public Library, Yaletown, False Creek. Ken was highly regarded in the region for his visionary leadership; he was an icon among the city managers in the region.”

Later, as Deputy Minister to the Premier he managed 30,000 provincial employees working on infrastructure projects such as the Canada Line, Pacific Gateway Project, the Vancouver Convention Center, the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. He took a large part in resolving conflicts over the Great Bear Rainforest and the softwood lumber industry.

After leaving the public service, Ken advised several organizations such as the BC Lumber Trade Council, Port Metro and the BC Institute of Technology and helped to create the Street to Home Foundation.

While admiring many colleagues and community leaders, Ken made little of his own achievements. Nonetheless, his work was recognized by many in both the public and private sectors. In 1995, he received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration. In 2002, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee medal, and in 2011 he was appointed to the Order of BC in recognition of his public service.

In October 2008, a gathering of municipal, federal and provincial leaders from all parties was held to celebrate his leadership. At that event, a scholarship was founded in recognition of his contributions: the Ken Dobell Public Service Education Fund Scholarship. The scholarship was, at Ken’s direction, established to encourage students with an interest in studies that would enhance reconciliation amongst local government and Indigenous Peoples to pursue post-secondary opportunities.

Ken was a talented musician and loved to sing, performing in high school operettas and often winning high marks in music festivals. A good guitarist, he sang the songs of Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, accompanying himself on a 12-string guitar. Concerts at the Chan Centre and the Early Music Society gave him great pleasure. One of his favourite Christmas activities was to buy tickets each year for his large extended family and some special friends to join him at the Orpheum Theatre for a performance of the Messiah.

He revered the music of Handel and Mozart as well as the songs of Pete Seeger and Joni Mitchell, and he admired the poetry of ee Cummings and WB Yeats. He loved good company, a fine bottle of Okanagan wine, a juicy steak, and a lively argument. He detested pretension, bureaucratic rules, red tape, fussing, dull food, and disrespect to disadvantaged or disabled people.

And he loved all things fishing – especially when he had the opportunity to take his children and grandchildren on a fishing vacation to Campbell River, or Hihium Lake (or many other places). One of his last fishing adventures was a trip to Alaska with his son Colin, and his friend Al Hamilton. Ken caught and released his largest fish ever - a 55-pound spring salmon in the Kenai River; a memory he fondly recalled several times in recent years.

Above all, Ken delighted in his three children and his several grandchildren, as well as in his many nephews and nieces. He took a deep interest in their education, work, and hobbies, and frequently declared that each generation was an improvement on earlier ones. In later life, Ken was beset by a number of complicated health issues which limited his activities and led him and his beloved wife Pamela to relocate to Amica on the Gorge in 2020. After Pamela’s death in 2022, Ken became even more reclusive and remained in his room, reading, watching television and listening to music.

Ken passed away in his sleep on the night of August 17. It is a blessing to know that it was a peaceful passing and a comfort to remember that, the night before he died, Ken called his son to ask him to set up a phone app that he could use to tune his guitar which he had not played for years. “I think I might take up playing it again,” he said. It’s good to know that, right to the end, Ken was open to new possibilities.

Predeceased by his parents, Colin and Sally Dobell, and his brother, Rod, Ken is survived by his sister, Carol Matthews, and his children Leah, Colin (Anne-Marie) and Derek (Charlene), and his grandchildren and many extended family members. The family wishes to thank the caregivers at Amica on the Gorge for their care. Ken always spoke highly of them and felt that they deserved more recognition for their challenging work.

At Ken’s request, there will be no memorial. Instead of flowers, a donation to Canadian Diabetes or The Vancouver Foundation Ken Dobell Public Service Education Fund would be appreciated.