Colin DOBELL

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and tragic passing of Colin on April 22, 2024, just shy of his 64th Birthday. Colin was the loving husband and best friend of Gail, proud father of Reid (Alisha), and devoted son of Jane and the late Peter C. Dobell. Colin's curious and quick mind was fuelled by a life-long commitment to learning. Colin's formal education started in Ottawa and continued at Trinity College, U of T, and then with an MBA from Stanford University in California. Informally, Colin pursued learning in community building, environmental issues, art and architecture, and youth wellness. Colin's professional pursuits represent an amazing journey from for-profit to not-for-profit and community service across three countries. Colin spent the last nine years of his career at the Ontario Water Centre and Clearwater Farm, where he derived much joy from building a community hub for outdoor education and from reinforcing our connections to the natural environment. Colin was an avid traveller from a young age, first with his parents, grandmother, cousins, and friends, then later with Gail and Reid, and like-minded friends. His adventures took him all over Eastern and Western Europe, the United Kingdom, many African nations, Central and South America, India, and the US, where he, Gail, and Reid lived for over 15 years. In his beloved Canada, he loved hiking, canoe tripping, kayaking, and cross-country skiing from coast to coast. Whether in an exotic hotel or a sleeping bag beside a river, Colin's thirst for exploration was infectious. Of all the places he traveled, Georgian Bay was Colin's emotional home base. It was there that Colin's love of the outdoors was most evident-nurturing trees, making trails, clearing brush, or most wonderfully, sitting on the beloved rocks and admiring the view with family and friends. Colin's greatest gift was connecting with people. Even in a crowded room Colin could make someone feel like the centre of his universe. He built friendships and connections with everyone he met. New acquaintances and long-time friends all felt seen and heard when they left a conversation with Colin. Colin will be dearly missed by Gail, Reid, Alisha, and Jane, as well as by many in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, both here and across the globe. He will be remembered as a kind, quirky, curious, and caring man who made a difference in the life of everyone he met. Family and friends are invited to join us in honouring Colin's memory. A visitation will be held at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto (two stop lights west of Yonge Street), on Wednesday, May 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street (at Heath Street) on Thursday, May 2, at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow at the Badminton & Racquet Club. In memory of Colin, donations made to the CAMH Foundation (give.camh.ca) would be greatly appreciated.