Ken passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on August 27, 2024, at the age of 94. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Gwendolyn Merle (Pearson) of Sidney, BC, six months short of their 70th wedding anniversary. He was the cherished father of Kathy Campbell, Ian Campbell (Loretta), and Peggy Campbell (Robert Brooks); proud grandfather of Scott, Jake (Erica), Nicole (Maxx), Lisa, Alexander (Katherine), and Anna (John); and great grandfather of Alayah, Matthew, Henry, Abigail, Karlianna, Sloane, and Ronan.

Ken was born in Port Coquitlam, BC, to Kenneth Alexander Campbell of Port Coquitlam and Marguerite (Rita) Annie Mack of New Westminster, BC. He is predeceased by his sisters Verna Nicholson (Angus) and Gwen Bossley (Ray) and his twin Maxine Garon (Lou). A treasured Uncle Mack to many nieces and nephews. Ken grew up in Port Coquitlam. He graduated from T.J. Trapp Technical High School, New Westminster, in 1947, and received a BCom degree from UBC in 1952.

Ken and Gwen married in 1954 and set up house in Vancouver. Their first child arrived in 1955. The following year they moved to Coquitlam, BC, where they raised their three children. In 1973, the family relocated to Ottawa, ON.

Once described as “the perfect trade association executive,” Ken spent the first 30 years of his working life in the fishing industry. Beginning with a summer job at St. Mungo cannery on the Fraser River, in 1952, he joined the Canadian Fishing Co. Ltd. as an accountant. His rise to head office through industrial and personnel relations saw him taking steamships, fish packers, and bush planes to upcoast plants during most summers, and instilled in him a lifelong love of the BC coast.

In 1961, he was named manager of the Fisheries Association of BC, Vancouver, where he remained until 1973, when he moved to Ottawa to assume the title of manager, and later president (1978), of the Fisheries Council of Canada. He was instrumental in negotiating industry policy and collective agreements at international, federal, and provincial levels for the protection and sustainable use of fisheries resources and, as a delegate to the UN International Law of the Sea Conference, a comprehensive regime of law and order governing all uses of the oceans and seas. In 1982, Ken accepted the position of president of the Association of Canadian Distillers in Ottawa, where he put the final touches on a distinguished career, which included extensive international travel and influence.

He and Gwen retired in 1993 and returned to the west to settle in Kelowna, BC. Ken immediately became an active member of the Kelowna community. He was a leader in the restoration of the Myra Canyon Trestles and in securing their provincial park status and Canadian heritage site designation. He also participated in their second restoration after the trestles were destroyed in the Okanagan Park Mountain fire in 2003. For this and many other community endeavours, Ken received Kelowna’s Citizen of the Year Award in 2004 and the BC Achievement Community Award from the Premier and Lieutenant Governor of BC in 2008.

He was a passionate outdoorsman, liking nothing better than hiking in the mountains. He also loved to sing and spent many happy hours in various choirs, most recently with the Kelowna chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Cremation has taken place. Interment for both Ken and Gwen will be held at a later date in Port Coquitlam, BC. A joint Celebration of Life is planned in conjunction with a gathering of extended family and friends on the west coast in July 2025.