Kenneth G. "Ken" Petrie

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Kenneth George "ken" Petrie, of Mahone Bay, on March 29th 2016. Born in (Port Arthur) Thunder Bay, Ont., he was the son of George and Lily Petrie. He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Mader), Mahone Bay; sons Glen (Vickie), Coldbrook; Doug (Lise) and Corey, all of Bridgewater; daughter, Laurie (Bill), London, Ont.; former wife, Gail, Bridgewater;mother in law,Celia Mader(Mahone Bay) and his best pal, Zoey. He leaves behind a legacy of several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by son, Steven (Port Elgin, Ont.) and daughter, Donna (London, Ont.). Ken was immensely proud of his family and we in turn are proud of his many accomplishments, with love and admiration. Ken was a leader in the tourism industry, an avid hockey enthusiast and a lover of all sports.

Ken grew up in Port Arthur, Ontario and after graduating from High School was employed by Fairbanks Morse as a clerical clerk and quickly rose to the position of General Manager. Ken joined Lummus Canada as a purchasing agent and this took him to Labrador where he worked on the construction of a major heavy water plant. This became the stepping stone for Ken to join Comstock International where he went from Material Control Co-ordinator to Project Manager overseeing major construction projects in Eastern Canada.

This brought Ken to Nova Scotia where he embarqued on yet another venture entering the hospitality and tourism industry of our province. Owning a local beverage room in the valley and then quickly becoming the owner and operator of the Bridgewater Motor Inn and the Oak Island Inn and Marina in Western Shore. Ken led by example, he was very involved with his staff ensuring guests received the best service possible and this certainly defined the word team for all of us. He served on the Executive of South Shore Tourism, Vice President of the Innkeepers Guild and was a two term President of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia(TIANS). He proudly chaired several Seasell’s(marketing ventures into the US) and is a member of the TIANS Honour Role. He was a dedicated, passionate leader in the industry and mentor to many.

Ken also opened Discount Car and Truck Rental in the communities of Kentville, Bridgewater and Yarmouth. The Kentville operation is still managed today by son, Glen.

Outside of his career, hockey became his passion and he impacted the game on many levels. During his days in Ontario and Quebec he won several Western Ontario championships as coach and was president of two minor hockey associations. He coached and was GM of the Bridgewater Blues and Simmons Motor Olands Exports in the 1980’s /1990’s, and a board member of the Valley Wildcats. In recent years, Ken’s efforts secured a Junior A hockey franchise on the South Shore, The Lumberjacks. Ken loved being in the rink and talking hockey to his family and friends.

Ken was a man that lived life to its fullest, always up for a challenge and thrived on these opportunities. His positive outlook on life, strong work ethic and a sense of humour carried him through the peaks and valleys of life and he touched many with these virtues. Ken so enjoyed friend and family gatherings. It was a time full of laughter, stories and an opportunity to fire up the grill.

He loved being on the water boating, doggy beach time, golfing, fishing, cheering and supporting his family at sporting events and a full afternoon of television sports coverage.

Memorial donations in Ken's memory may be made to SHAID Tree Animal Shelter, SPCA, or Mahone Islands Conservation Association. Please come and share your memories of Ken with us during a visitation and reception at Mahone Funeral Home, 32 Parish St., Mahone Bay on Saturday April 9th from 2:00 to 4:00pm. Cremation has taken place. Special thanks to the staff of the Valley Regional Hospital and Dr. David Barss. Online condolences and further details can be found at www.mahonefuneral.ca