Kenneth Mark Drain is known as a quintessential son of Peterborough whose personal characteristics of joy, tenacity, self-sufficiency, fairness, generosity, and exemplary volunteerism embody the ethical leaders of the future.
Born on December 27, 1923, Ken developed polio at 15 months, a reality that shaped his life and helped forge his spirit. Unable to work on the family farm in Warsaw, Ontario, he pursued business college and went on to join De Laval, a Peterborough-based farm- equipment company. Over his 42-year career with the company, he progressed from a position at the soldering bench to holding responsibility for the general ledger and the consolidation of the accounts of the company’s eight branch offices.
The first of his many quiet, ardent campaigns to help those with physical disabilities was Ken Drain’s initiative to have the ramps added to every sidewalk corner in the City of Peterborough.
Despite a second round of polio and post polio syndrome, which later resulted in his dependence upon a wheelchair, Ken thrived on living right to the edge of his limits. A generous volunteer in Peterborough, Ken organized a province-wide convention of the United Handicapped Groups of Ontario and brought his financial acumen to the books of St. James United Church for many years.
Ken’s 84 years in Peterborough County reflect a life-long commitment to living life out of a strong set of values. Ken Drain died in Peterborough on September 10, 2007.