Kenneth Alexander Johnson
Ken Johnson, who was born in Bralorne BC, died August 7, 2022.
Ken leaves behind his wife Patricia, daughter Heather (Mike) and son Alan (Lisa). Nieces Nora and Karen, nephews Douglas (Diana), Stephen and Peter (Aida).
Ken attended U.B.C. where he received his Bachelor of Commerce degree and later qualified as a Certified General Accountant. He was a pilot with the R.C.A.F. and later joined the Dept. of Transportation. He was policy advisor with the Arctic Transportation Agency and Director of Airport Policy in Ottawa. Ken was also appointed Executive Director of the Aviation Safety Board. He loved his work.
Ken enjoyed being with family and friends (and fishing).
A private gathering will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or the Canadian Cancer Society.
17 Comments
E. J. Ted Legg
Dear Pat and Family,
We were so sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. He was truly a wonderful gentleman in the true meaning of the word – and will be sorely missed.
Thinking of you at this most difficult of time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love.
Jennie and Ted
Jean Laporte
Ken was a wonderful man. I had the pleasure of working with him for a number of years at the Safety Board and he was a tremendous mentor to me. My most sincere sympathies to Pat and family.
Bob Nicholson
Dear Patricia and family: Bernadette and I were saddened to learn of Ken’s death. Ken was a wonderful friend. I appreciated so much having him as a colleague in aviation. We remember fondly “Christmas at the Johnsons”.
Bob and Bernadette Nicholson
Peter & Pamela Harle
Ken’s passing marks the end of a remarkable era.
I had the pleasure and honour of getting to know Ken quite well over 37 years – professionally at the Safety Board and the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre. In retirement we frequently travelled together with our wives about the globe.
Ken was my Rock of Gibraltar – solid, reliable, dedicated, and patient. He saw things in their full context, from which he rendered sage counsel with the highest integrity.
Ken’s legacy undoubtedly is the durable impact that he has had in advancing transportation safety Canada – especially aviation safety – and in promoting the well being of others.
In sum, I saw Ken as a most competent boss, mentor, colleague, and respected dear friend. Those who knew him well are all the better for it.
To Pat and family we send our deepest condolences. May his memory continue to shine as a beacon for us all.
Peter & Pam
Jim Harris
Ken was a gracious man whose devotion to transportation safety was exemplary. His leadership, at the CASB and then the expanded multi-modal TSB, set the tone on how investigating transportation accidents leads to safer transportation systems. He will be missed by those who knew and worked with him. My sincerest condolences to Pat and the family.
Jim and Linda
Dr. Victor Joseph Lanctis
It is with deep sadness that that my wife and I learned of Ken’s passing. While my personal contact and relationship with him was, unfortunately, relatively brief, I did get to admire and appreciate his enormous talents and qualities as a member of the Board of Directors of the Perley Rideau Health Centre and of its related activities and endeavours. Ken always presented as a gentleman with a kind and sensitive manner but also a knowledgeable and competent individual upon whom one could count and trust. Our sincere condolences to Patricia and the entire family. He will be missed.
David and Audrian Kinsman
Pat and family. Audrian joins me in extending our most sincere condolences for your recent loss of a wonderful husband and father. As I moved into the office of Executive Director of the Transportation Safety Board, taking over the reins from Ken, I was immediately struck by his unique contribution to that organization and by the professional and personal respect he enjoyed throughout the transportation community. Ken was the epitome of a gentleman and it was an honour to have known him and to have gained so many insights from him. May your many memories of his kind, generous nature ease the sadness created by his loss.
Kathy Fox
On behalf of the TSB, I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Ken Johnson. Although Ken had retired before I joined the Board in 2007, I did have the pleasure of meeting him on several prior occasions. I was always impressed by his professionalism, expertise and devotion to advancing transportation safety, first at CASB and then at the TSB. He has most certainly left his mark on the conduct of rigourous, independent safety investigations and he will be sadly missed, especially by those colleagues who knew and worked directly with him.
Kathy Fox, Chair – TSB
Ian Naish
Ken was one of the finest senior civil servants I have ever known. It was a true pleasure and honour to work under his leadership at the TSB in the late ’90s and early 2000’s. His dedication to the TSB was total and he built a superb organization there. Ken’s qualities of professionalism, integrity, and his superlative management style were a lesson for all of us. Those qualities, as well as his delightful and unique sense of humour, will be greatly missed.
Ian Naish
Deepest sympathies to Pat and family.
Sandra gervais
Dear Pat
Sorry to hear of Kens passing.
From this book club Pat we pass our sincere condolences
We enjoyed having you as part of our book family for thirty years.
As always with love.
Sande Gervais
Bill Tucker
My first thought when I learned of Ken’s passing was “He was one of the finest men I have ever known”.
While considering what to write in this condolence message, I checked the meaning of “finest person”. The Free Dictionary defines it as “excellent in character or ability”. That really fits Ken, except for one thing; Ken was excellent in character AND ability.
I first met Ken almost 50 years ago when we were working in different areas of Transport Canada. In 1983, I joined his team at TC’s Aviation Safety Bureau to help set up the independent Canadian Aviation Safety Board. CASB was established in 1984, and Ken became its Executive Director. In 1990, CASB was replaced by a new multimodal Transportation Safety Board, and Ken served as its Executive Director until his retirement about 10 years later. I worked for Ken throughout that period (though he regarded his staff as working with him rather than for him). We remained friends for another 20 years, after his retirement, and mine a few years later.
There are many complimentary adjectives that fit Ken Johnson. A few of them are: honest, intelligent, professional, competent, dependable, considerate, ethical, even-tempered, and wise. I can not think of even one negative attribute.
Thelma and I offer our heartfelt sympathy to Pat, Heather, Alan, and extended family.
Bill Tucker
Benoit Bouchard
It is a very sad day for éveryone who knew Ken Johnson. Ken welcomed me in 1993 as a chair of the Transportation Board. He made my apprenticeship much easier and for all 7 years I was the chair we had a great relationship and I should say an enjoyable one.Ken was a very funny guy and in those trips abroad we had unforgettable experiences. Ken had always the touch to calm me down when, for exemple our flight was diverted to Lyon (France)and our luggage were not on the flight. I will share with my friend Bill Tucker ”the finest person” I met in my professionnal career. My best condoleances to Patricia and the family.
Paulette Gallant
I had the ‘chance’ of working for him at the Transportation Safety Board and Ken was more than an excellent boss. He was a friend and will never be forgotten. To Pat, Heather and Allan my deepest sympathy.
Paulette
Wendy (Hawkes) & Jamie Thomas
We were very sorry to hear the news of Ken’s passing. He was a wonderful man and I will always have fond memories of him. I can see Ken and Dad hanging out in heaven trading flying stories and talking everything aviation. Ken was truly a special person and he will be sorely missed. My sincere condolences to cousin Pat, Heather and Alan. 💕
Lois Kyle-Issenman
My deepest condolences to Pat and family.
I worked with Ken for twenty three years at the Transportation Safety Board. He was a kind and gentle man.
Jim Hall
Dear Pat, Heather and Alan,
I extend my love to you and the extended family and friends of Ken on his death. What a Rock Star of a human being whose friendship and knowledge I cherished for twenty plus years. As the politically appointed Chairman of the NTSB in the United States it was my good fortune to work closely with Ken on numerous investigations and transportation safety issues. Together we encourage close cooperation of our two independent safety organizations as well promoting independent investigations world wide. After we both retired from our government positions we continued our joint passion for safety in working with private entities and governments on safety investigations and studies, Thanks to Ken’s writing skills and knowledge I know we made a differenc3 in advancing transportation issues around the world.
So much for good works as Ken was also a source of good times and friendship. We both enjoyed a glass of scotch and a discussion of our shared scotch heritage as well as lively discussions around the politics and people in Canada and the United States. Both proud that we were North Americans and the hard work required to be a full serving citizen of our respective countries. I learned about the Goldfish Club that Ken was a proud member of and where the Halls and the Johnsons fit in Scottish history. Ken brought out historical writings about the notorious Hall Clan that lived on border between Scotland and England and whose services went to the highest bidder when there were conflicts between the King of Scotland and England! Of course, the Johnson’s were a more dependable lot.
I should have known as Ken was a dependable friend always with sage advice, a friendly smile and a positive word. We both loved our heritage and the closed friendship between our two nations and were always ready to express our passion for safety and government service,
Thanks to Ken’s family for supporting all his service over the years as I feel I know you as you were always part of our conversations. I will miss Ken but always be grateful for his friendship.