Kenneth Anthony Mader

[1931-2019]

Ken Mader, FCPA, FCA, the son of a ship's carpenter, was born on July 22, 1931 in North End Halifax, in the front room of the family house that had survived the Halifax Explosion. His early years, prior to the Second World War, were spent growing up in Plymouth, England. The family subsequently returned to Canada and Halifax.

When Ken was in high school, his father was badly injured in an industrial accident, leaving the family with little financial support. Although he would have liked to been a professional photographer, Ken joined a Chartered Accountants Student Program. In 1955 he received his C.A.

Mr. Mader was to serve the accounting profession in many roles, including as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and Chairman of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. For his service he has been recognized as a Fellow of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and Ontario, and received a Life Membership in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. Ken was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame at Saint Mary's University, where he became an Adjunct Professor of Accounting during his retirement.

For 34 years Ken was the Chief Financial Officer of the Maritime Life Assurance Company as it grew from a local to a national firm. He was also the company's Chief Human Resources Officer for six years, where he was guided by the philosophy that people are people, regardless of position. Other business activities included; President of the Halifax Board of Trade, Trustee of the Summit REIT, President of Sky-Hi Jacking and Construction Company, and Chair of Edsel Investments.

A strong belief in public service involved him in a vast number of community organizations, including: the Presbyterian Church in Canada at the local and national levels; Boy Scouts, locally, nationally and internationally; United Way; Laubach Literacy Canada; Canadian Naval Memorial Trust; and in the mental health field. He was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and the Canada 125 Medal in recognition of his service.

Ken Mader was known as a Renaissance man and for his joy of life, living by the motto "work like you will live forever and live like you will die tonight". He enjoyed a good debate on any topic, for which he was always prepared, being both a voracious reader and willing to acknowledge that there were at least two viewpoints for each topic. He was sought out for his wisdom, knowledge and insight by the many people who knew him.

Ken and his wife Gloria—who met in 1953 through a leadership program within the Scouting movement—had a mutual love of music. From the time they married, the Maders were patrons of the symphony. They also supported the organization that is now called Bravura Nova Scotia throughout the decades, attending many events, concerts, and dinners. At a live auction the then Association held in the 1990s, Ken and Gloria made the occasion a success with their multiple bids. Generous donations from the Maders made it possible for Bravura to initiate the Professional Development Fellowship program that has expanded to become our signature type of support for teachers of dance and music. Ken’s financial contributions to the Conservatory and to Bravura Nova Scotia continued for many years, as he was impressed by the work and the success of both organizations. This multi-decade record of support was acknowledged by Bravura Nova Scotia in 2019 when Ken Mader was named an Honorary Life Member.