Memory Garden

1932 – 2026

Archie Gerald Kay
Lived his way.
Loved his people.
Left a legacy of strength and courage—and a few good stories.

It is with heavy hearts (and a fair bit of disbelief that he didn’t outlast us all) that we share the passing of our beloved father, Archie Kay, at the impressive age of 94. He left peacefully, with his children, Robert (Anh) and Linda (David) by his side, just as he would have wanted, quietly in charge to the very end.

Dad was born in Bangalore, India, in 1932 to Dorothy and Robert Kay. Alongside his sister Christine, he spent his early years in a plantation-style home that clearly set the tone for a lifetime of adventure. They had a lovely little Mongoose called “Ricky-Ticky-Tavi” who used to keep the cobras at bay in the backyard. They also had 2 little family dogs, Scruffy and Penny – the Dachshund, who was quite cheeky. Dad would throw her into the pool, to which she would respond by rolling in the dirt and getting under his bedsheets! Needless to say, his mother wasn’t very happy!

At the tender age of five, he was shipped off to boarding school; character-building, as they say, following which he carried on all the way through to earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Glasgow.

Not one to linger, he promptly said farewell to his parents (then in Croydon), boarded a ship with his friend George in 1955, and headed for the Americas. Canada, at the time, was the land of opportunity, and Dad wasted no time proving it. He began his career at A.V. Roe Canada and went on to work on the legendary Avro Arrow (which, in his opinion, was “mysteriously” cancelled far too soon).

He quickly found his people, joining fellow expats on the rugby field with the Toronto Scottish Rugby League. But winter? That simply wouldn’t do. So, in true form, the wee gaggle of Scotsmen decided to fix the problem by helping start a ski club in Collingwood, established and named Craigleith Ski Club. And yes, he could ski… exceptionally well, and he made sure everyone knew it!

In 1957, Dad joined the Air Force, where he learned to fly (including Harvards, T33s, F86s, and Beechcrafts) and formed lifelong friendships while doing so. Somewhere along the way, he met Isobel and, with a little strategic assistance from her secretary, managed to convince her to go out on a date with him. The rest, as they say, is history. They married in 1960 and began their life together in Willowdale, where Dad was working with IBM.

Robert arrived in 1962, Linda in 1965, and after a brief stint in Montreal (cut short by the FLQ crisis – Dad preferred his adventures a bit less political) the family settled in Port Credit in 1970, alongside many familiar faces from Montreal’s West Island.

Dad’s love of sailing began in India with his own father where they sailed “Snipes” on Lake Hesragatta. After arriving in Canada, he carried through to Lake Ontario, where he spent countless happy years on the water after buying his first sailboat in 1971, occasionally venturing further afield to the British Virgin Islands and other international destinations, just to keep things interesting.

He was, quite simply, loved by everyone. His friendships ran deep, particularly with two cherished groups: his Air Force comrades and his rugby mates, both of whom remained close throughout his life.

We sadly lost Mum, Isobel, in 2006. While deeply affected, Dad showed his resilience in his own way, spending more time with his grandchildren, Ewan, Catherine, James, Hannah, and Griffin, and embracing family life with renewed energy. There were many cherished weekends at the cottage, trips to Mexico, visits to London, and countless moments together.

Archie was one of a kind: adventurous, sharp, energetic, endlessly funny, extremely intelligent and impossible to replicate. Truly, there will never be another like him.

Godspeed, Dad. You’ve earned the final word.

Ad Astra!

1958 – 2026

William Roger “Bill” Williams, born July 6, 1958, in Toronto, Ontario.  He passed away fighting hard for his life on January 12, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

We are sure he has now been reunited with his parents, Dorothy (Dodds) Williams and Roger Elton Williams, cruising on the water somewhere. He will be deeply missed by his devoted wife, Sheila (Richards) Williams, and his cherished children, Ben (Jamie), Greg, and Jackie, the pride and joy of his life.

He is also lovingly remembered by his siblings: John (Julie), Jim (Mary Lynn), Dan (Ellen), Carole (Pete), and Ted (Lori), as well as his many nieces and nephews, who knew him as a steady presence, a source of wisdom, and a generous supporter.

Bill’s legacy continues with the anticipation of his granddaughter, not yet born, whom he looked forward to meeting and loving deeply.

The Williams entrepreneurial spirit was strong within Bill, a spirit which he ensured was passed on to his children. He started and successfully operated many businesses throughout his life, including a yacht chartering company founded with his brother Jim. His passion for home design and sales led to a remarkable career spanning more than 35 years. Most recently, he continued this work alongside his daughter Jackie in their new design and sales venture in timber frame homes. Jackie will carry forward his legacy in the craft and calling that Bill deeply loved.

Bill was larger than life, he filled any room he was in with positivity, silly antics, and questionable jokes.  He embraced life with unwavering enthusiasm and joy, always finding time for fun and connection. He especially treasured time spent at the family camp (cottage), boat trips, skiing at Craigleith Ski Club, and family travels that created memories that will last forever.

A devoted husband, proud father, loyal brother, caring uncle, and great friend to all, Bill was known for his integrity, creativity, and unwavering commitment to family. His memory will live on through the communities of friends he helped create, the businesses he built, the adventures he led, and the love he gave so freely. He will be forever remembered and dearly missed by all who knew him.

Please join us for Bill’s Celebration of Life on Sunday, January 25^th from 2:00 – 5:00 pm at Bear Estate, 300 Balsam St, Collingwood, ON L9Y 0B3.

1944 – 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Ross King on December 14, 2025. Craigleith had been an important part of his life for almost 40 years. As a ski instructor and member, he made many lifelong friends. He especially loved the early morning runs with fellow instructors, their lunch room banter, sharing beers at the end of the day and the camaraderie they shared off the slopes all year long. He taught hundreds of people how to ski and that brought him great satisfaction and many friendships as well.

Sailing was his summer sport and he pursued that with equal passion. He was an avid Albacore racer for over 4 decades and enjoyed nothing more than big winds on a race course, tinkering & varnishing his boat or sharing race stories over a few beers on the deck at OHCC.

If you offered people the script of Ross’s life, I think many would choose it. He lived a healthy 81 years and had two careers – one professional (an engineer at Ontario Hydro) and one for retirement fun (at Lexus). He had two sports he excelled at and enjoyed till he was 80. He had close lifelong friends he regularly shared good times with. Ross had a loving family, his wife Fran Smyth and his pride and joy his children John and Laura. His heart condition brought it all to a sudden end, but he had a full life that brought him great joy.

A celebration of his life will be held later. Donations in his memory can be made to Sunnybrook Hospital or the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice.

1956 – 2025

Craig David Farrow has officially moved the party to somewhere beyond the confines of Craigleith, Muskoka, Forest Hill, St Andrew’s College and the pubs of Britain. We’re all crushed by his passing, at age 69, but take comfort in knowing he’s having a hot dog and beer, catching up with a few pals and relatives, and petting the family dogs who were waiting patiently for him at the gate.

His wife Susan (Dalton) and kids, Scott, Emily, Katie – plus husbands David and Chris – are overwhelmed with a wild mix of sadness, joy and gratitude that Craig loved them fiercely, profoundly and permanently. Their mutual adoration is testament to the beauty of what is possible within family, in particular the immensity of Sue’s love and devotion to Craig over 37 years of marriage. 

He leaves behind a fan base that includes his siblings, Blake and wife Marina, Jane and Jeff, the spectacular Dalton-in-laws Andrew, Julie, Randy and Eva, an unruly mob of nephews and nieces, and all his grandchildren, the ones here now and those on the way. We are all of the opinion that there could be no more brilliant, mischievous, loyal, hard working, witty and passionate human on the planet – Farrow opinions are never humble after all. 

Craig blazed the trail from humble beginnings in Etobicoke to greatness in global tech and mobile sales for Motorola, Blackberry and others. Skiing and football were his favoured sporty pastimes, as a player, racer, coach, Chair of Alpine Ontario and a die-hard CFL/Argos fan. 

The open-door policy at the Farrow’s was legendary and generally included access to the fridge, the couch, a sympathetic ear and the world famous Craig hug to all who needed it. He made everyone feel at home, until he told them it was time to %*& off and leave. Over the years he perfected the art of party hosting, pep talks, debating politics, leaf blowing, Pings Gang pranks and puppet shows, Kraft Dinner creativity, a firm hand shake, discrete furniture installations on other people’s lawns and spray painting shoes with gold lacquer – because why the hell not.

Craig is revered and adored by a minor solar system of work colleagues, SAC old boys, brothers and sisters from other mothers, his kids buddies and school chums, Craigleith cronies, the Team Craig Ride to Conquer Cancer crew, the PMH miracle workers, and just about anyone who shared a chairlift with him. To be fair, he is also reviled by a few neighbours who did not appreciate decades of parties and loud music. 

What a life, what a legacy. Gold star Craig!

In lieu of flowers, please share Craig Farrow stories, hug your loved ones, flip the bird at someone pompous and arrogant, consider pranking your besties and in the words of his hero Winston Churchill, “Keep Buggering On (KBO)”. 

If you are inclined to honour his memory with a donation for the betterment of humanity, we salute you. Here’s two organizations that meant a lot to Craig: The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation  https://thepmcf.ca/ and Campbell House Hospice  https://hgtfoundation.com/donate/

Please join us at Craig’s Celebration of Life on Monday, December 29, 4:00 – 7:00 pm at the Collingwood Royal Canadian Legion, 490 Ontario Street, Collingwood ON.

1927 – 2025

Craigleith member, Dr. Robert McMillin lived a long, full, and contributing life, before passing on December 6, 2025. His family is forever grateful for his love and influence in our lives.

Born in Toronto in 1927, he worked for his father in the family hardware store at Main and Gerrard, where he learned his woodworking skills and the ability to fix just about anything. He attended the University of Toronto at age 16, first graduating from Phys Ed in 1948, before earning his Medical Degree in 1954. He then set up a family practice in Weston, where he provided 64 years of dedicated medical care to his patients.  Dr. Bob maintained a full-time practice until the age of 92, making him one of the longest-working GPs in Canada.  He was the Chief of Staff at Humber Memorial Hospital for 26 years, and Chief of Family Practice for 5 years, mentoring countless medical students and providing incomparable leadership and support to the hospital community.

Always an outstanding athlete, in 1964, Dr. Bob and his young family joined Craigleith Ski Club. At that time, the club had one newly installed T-bar, a rope tow, and amazing potential. As his family grew, he introduced his children, grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren to the ski hills at Craigleith, cheering each of them on and encouraging them to challenge themselves on and off the hills. 

Dr. Bob was instrumental in forming the Racing Program at Craigleith, supporting it for many decades as a coach, parent, race doctor, and in any other capacity where there was a need, variously as a timer, course setter, gatewatcher, and ski tuner. Dr. Bob was a Director at Craigleith in the 1970’s, providing wise direction to the Club at a time of rapid growth. He loved skiing and the ski community at Craigleith, and was often the first on the hill and the last to leave at the end of the day. Most winter weekends, the McMillin chalet became the location of many “reverse” house calls, made at all hours. Dr. Bob provided treatment or advice to family and friends for fevers and stitches, to ear-piercings, slings, or potential fractures.  Dr. Bob was always happy to help. At the age of 67 he took up snowboarding, which he continued well into his 80’s. Throughout his 70’s and 80’s, after a morning on the hills, he could be found snowshoeing up the Switchback, continuing even after two knee replacements.  Summers at Craigleith were also a favourite of Bob’s. He loved windsurfing at Northwinds beach, playing tennis at the club, and hiking up the hill to find broken gates he could repurpose, or saplings that he could transplant.

Dr. Bob will be dearly missed by his loving family, his wife Judie, his children, Mary (Rip), Carolyn (James), Lorna, Andy (Emily), Janice, Meredith (Chris), and Allison (Peter), his grandchildren, Ryley, Marissa, Jared, Jenna, Drew, Robbie, Kate, Christian, James, Sadie, Kieran, Charlie, Liam, Madeleine, Ethan, and Cecily, and his ten great-grandchildren. He inspired us with his deep knowledge, compassion, positive energy, service to others, and his enthusiasm for living an active, meaningful, and productive life. A celebration of his life will be held for friends and family in the new year.

If you wish to donate to a charity close to his heart, please consider the Humber River Health Foundation or Doctors Without Borders.

December 6, 1956 – November 13, 2025

Of Collingwood, formerly of Mississauga, died suddenly on Thursday November 13, 2025.  Cherished mother of Virgilia Libert (Shaun Melis) and Alec Libert (Danielle Kinsie).  Treasured by her granddaughter Kinsie Libert.  Dear daughter of Priscilla MacKenzie (née Sutherland) (Rick Reilly) and the late John Robert MacKenzie (Doris MacKenzie).  Loved by her siblings, the late Robert MacKenzie, Daphne MacKenzie (David Byers) and Douglas MacKenzie (Nicola Topliss).  She is greatly missed by her nieces and nephews, Katie (Will), John Robert (Jessica), Scotia, Angus, Jamie, Padraig and Douglas and grand niece Rose.

Dawneen grew up in Sarnia and spent her formative years there. She began her high school studies in Sarnia at Northern Collegiate Institute & Vocational School, Class of 1974, and continued her education in Quebec at Collège Mérici in Arts és Lettres, Class of 1976. With a passion for the French language she furthered her education at ISTI  (Institut Supérieur d’état de Traducteurs et Interprètes, Class of 1978), a school renowned in translation and language interpretation.  This is where Dawneen connected with her husband, Bruno Libert, and her lifelong friend, Edwin Goossens-Vaerewyck, who became Virgilia and Alec’s adoring godfather. Later she graduated from Queen’s University, B.A. Honours, French Translation, Class of 1979.

In 1979, she left Canada for Brussels, Belgium where she married Bruno Libert and had two children.  After 12 years in Belgium, she moved back to Canada to be closer to family and friends. Upon her arrival she began working as a translator at Livingston International Inc. and quickly advanced to become the Vice President of Communications until she retired in 2014.

She loved to ski, snowshoe and hike across the escarpment.  Her father was one of the founding members of Craigleith Ski Club. The family tradition continued with Dawneen who spent every winter on the slopes with Virgilia and Alec, frequently travelling across the Province to cheer on Alec at his ski races.

Dawneen was an excellent dancer, operated her own dance studio out of her home in Brussels, Belgium and shared her love for dance with her daughter Virgilia. She had a passion for art and a natural eye for design. She created warm and beautiful spaces throughout her home and cottage, for clients and family.

She loved to cook and taste a variety of different wines and cheeses. Her interest in wines of various regions inspired her to earn her WSET certification.  She enjoyed reading a good book on the dock at her cottage in Muskoka or watching Formula One on television.  

A Celebration of Dawneen’s Life will be held at Craigleith Ski Club, 164 Craigleith Road, The Blue Mountains (near Collingwood), on Saturday November 29th from 1 pm to 4 pm, with memories and stories shared at The Base Lodge.  If desired, donations in memory of Dawneen may be made to the Canadian Wildlife Federation, University Health Network or a charity of your choice and would be appreciated by her family. Arrangements entrusted to the Chatterson Funeral Home, Collingwood.  To sign Dawneen’s Book of Memories, please visit www.chattersonfuneralhome.com.

1927 – 2025

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Ben passed away in the early morning of Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Campbell House Hospice in Collingwood in his 99th year. He will be truly missed by his children: Daniel, Kim (died at the age of 5), Matthew (Pam), Eden (Ron), Luke and his 3 grandchildren: Sydney, Dawson and Luke. 

Ben was born on August 18, 1927 in Toronto. He and his late wife Mary moved permanently to the Collingwood area in 1998 when their chalet on the beach became a house. Ben loved swimming, sailing, tennis and skiing at Craigleith Ski Club, which he skied until the age of 92. 

Later he and Mary moved to Raglan Village where he was a long time resident and was loved by all.

Ben’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Campbell House Hospice for their wonderful support and loving care.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Ben’s Life will take place at a later date. Internment also will take place in Toronto at a later date.

The family would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Dr. Quigg and the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital staff.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Collingwood General Marine Hospital or Georgian Triangle Hospice would be appreciated by the family.

March 25, 1929 – February 11, 2025

 Our cherished father Jack Betz passed away peacefully at Meaford Hospital February 11th, 2025 at the age of 95, just shy of his 96th birthday.

Jack is survived by his children Kimberley Betz and Richard Betz. He is predeceased by his loving wife Hedy (née Rimkus) and brothers William and David Betz.

Jack was born in Toronto in 1929 and grew up in the East End of the city on Grant Street, surviving the Great Depression. He attended Riverdale Collegiate and took on several humble jobs to help pay the bills, the most memorable being working for Toronto Life Saving and Police Services where he witnessed the historic fire in Toronto harbour of the SS Noronic in 1949. His least favourite job was delivering bills for the gas company. He joked that he made very few friends and no one was ever happy to see him.

Unfulfilled, he decided to enroll at the University of Toronto where he excelled in geophysics. There he became a keen member of the boxing team and developed a lifelong passion for fitness.

Upon graduation he started his own company John Betz Ltd and was a pioneer in the field of geophysics. He consulted all over the world and loved sharing stories of his travels. He spent much of his time in Northern Quebec and never missed an opportunity to show off his fluency in French.

Jack was an avid skier and was a heritage member at Craigleith Ski Club. It was his love for the sport that ultimately fueled his decision to move to Meaford in 1992. He had a competitive streak and not only joined the adult racing league but worked behind the scenes of the club’s Going Downhill League. The feather in his cap was winning gold at the 2000 Ontario Senior Winter Games.

Summers would find Jack at Northwinds Beach where in his 50s he taught himself to windsurf. He would sheepishly blame others if colourful language floated across the bay when things didn’t quite go his way. In his later years he traded in his board for a bicycle. The neighbours would see him routinely race past as he tried to beat his previous time around the block. It was his firm belief that staying active is what kept him young.

Jack was a true lover of music and held season tickets for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company, then subsequently the Georgian Bay Symphony Orchestra. At the mere mention of Mozart he would tear up, marvelling at the beautiful genius of the young lad who could compose such intricate masterpieces by the light of a candle. Jack’s amateur videographer skills brought him to local performances where he could be found faithfully filming. He then spent hours editing so he could later distribute copies to the musicians and audience members. In fact it was this activity that occupied most of his time in his later years.

Jack Betz had a quick wit and a song for every occasion. He also loved to showboat on and off the dance floor. He was a truly wonderful and unique character.

Please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or the Meaford Hospital Foundation in his honour.