Published in The BANAR September 2011
by Stan Kowala
On May 22, 2011 we lost a long-time volunteer/mentor in the Blackburn Hamlet community. Eldon Kemp was born and raised in Blackburn and passed away in his 90th year. He leaves behind a legacy of community involvement that traces back to the early days when individuals like him took charge and did whatever they could to improve the quality of life for their families.
I first met Mr. Kemp during my childhood days in Blackburn Corners (as it was known then).As a kid you never thought of, “How did this outdoor rink get here?” or “Who started thewood stove in the shack?”…you just showed up and enjoyed it. But eventually you come to realize that the same person,who youwould always see around the rink, was indeed the man behind the scenes whomade it all happen.
However, Mr. Kemp’s volunteerism didn’t stop at the rink. He spent many years as a Cub leader, as well as helping organize other community events, such as winter carnivals, Halloween parties and who could forget the 1967 Centennial celebration, when he decided to enter the beard growing contest and walk the 40 miles (64.3 km) in the first Miles for Millions.
Coming from his background as a machinist, he had the creative ability to design and fabricate just about anything you could imagine. When it came to anything mechanical, he was your go-to man. In fact, the original Bozo the Clown dunking tank for the Blackburn Fun Fair was one of Mr. Kemp’s creations.
Later in years, I got to know Eldon (as he preferred I call him) on a different level. We both worked at the National Research Council and it was there he started the first NRC Fish and Game Club. Organizing family fishing derbies was his specialty. As we both shared the same passion for the great outdoors, I had the pleasure of hunting and fishing with Eldon for many, many years.
Eldon Kemp was one of the true trail blazers of Blackburn. He taught us all so much about family and community involvement…may his legacy live on.
Eldon was the husband of Lois Kemp, father of seven children, grandfather of 22 and great-grandfather of 11. He was a veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy and served his country from 1942-1945. He received the Governor General’s Long Service Award for 25 years in the Scouting movement. Eldon was a school trustee of Blackburn Public School, a long time member/elder of the Rothwell United Church and active in the creation of the church building in 1961. As a founding member and on the board of the Blackburn Community Association for over 35 years, he was especially active in activities for Blackburn’s young people including the annual Fun Fair, hockey teams and four decades of building outdoor ice rinks. His first community volunteer job had been to light the wood stove in Blackburn’s one-room schoolhouse early on cold mornings.