OVA News

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the death of Ted Cole and share this with the Camp Madawaska community. Ted died after a courageous and lengthy battle with leukemia.

For one week every summer, Ted’s beloved Camp Walden was transformed into  Camp Madawaska, volleyball camp extraordinaire. Madawaska campers will know Ted best for his annual Hootenannies – the evening program highlight of every Madawaska summer! Despite little formal involvement in providing Madawaska’s program, Ted had a way of influencing every Madawaska camper and staff that he came in contact with throughout their time at camp. Ted was known to those close to him as a man of great character with a provocative sense of humour, and generosity beyond words.
Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden wrote “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” This quotation provides a glimpse of the philosophy upon which Ted’s life and the Walden and Madawaska communities have been built. We will celebrate Ted’s life – a life lived with conviction, confidence, and zest. Generations of campers and staff have been touched forever by Ted’s unending passion for music, activity, and relationships. Generations of future campers will benefit from the legacy he has left behind. His spirit will continue to guide us in significant and positive ways.
Madawaska has lost a true friend. He will be very dearly missed.

Donations in his memory can be made to:
Kids In Camp c/o The Ontario Camping Association
#301, 250 Merton Street,
Toronto, ON M4S 1B1