He was a large presence in the courtroom and outside of it.
Former Vernon resident, Canadian Football League offensive lineman, and Provincial and Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Arkell died peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Aug. 27 in Bloomington, Illinois. He was 93.
Arkell was born in Calgary in 1930 and grew up in a loving family with two sisters and brother. The family left Alberta due to the Depression, moving to Bayfield, Ont. He attended grade school in Clinton, and left to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where he was a heavyweight boxing champion.
He left the Mounties to further his education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University in London, Ont, where he excelled as a varsity athlete on the Mustangs' football team. A 6-foot-5, 235-pound offensive lineman, Arkell would sign with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1955, but was traded to the Ontario Rugby Football Union champion Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, the last ORFU team to compete for a Grey Cup, losing to the Edmonton Eskimos in a semifinal in 1954.
Arkell would sign a contract after the 1955 season with the B.C. Lions. He played two seasons, 1956 and 1957, and continued his education at the same time, enrolling in the UBC Law School.
The Lions honoured Arkell on his 90th birthday, Dec. 6,2020, by presenting him the Heart of a Lion Award which recognizes British Columbians whose notable efforts have made a positive impact.
Arkell had a long distinguished legal career following his UBC graduation in 1959. He moved to Dawson Creek, where he served as Crown prosecutor, and practiced law until he was appointed to the B.C. Provincial Court.
Arkell and his family moved to Vernon in 1971, where he served as the Associate Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of B.C. until he was appointed to the Supreme Court of B.C. He retired a Supreme Court Justice in 1999. Given his towering stature, Justice Arkell is fondly remembered by his peers and referred to as "the last of the great no B.S. judges."
The highlight of his life was when he met and married Olivia Tofteland, the love of his life. They were married in Valhalla, Alta. in July 1960 and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary at the home of their youngest child, Tom, in Bloomington.
The Arkells had four kids, all of whom attended school in Vernon 鈥� Kathryn, Jim, Karyn, and Tom. Ken and Olivia spent their time after retirement between the Okanagan, Texas, Arizona, before they finally settled in Bloomington.
Ken is survived by his wife Olivia, children Kathryn, Jim and his wife Liezl, Karyn and Tom, as well as six grandchildren, Olivia, Charlotte, Katy, Delaney, Dawson and Kenneth. He is also survived by his sister Rosemarie (Arkell) Sager.
There is no service planned at this time.
