Bert Oldershaw

[scotto]

Dear Friends of the lighthouse,

I've just learned that Bert Oldershaw passed away yesterday. He turned 84
this past November 10th.

Bert's passion for the lighthouse and keeper's cottage caused BCLG to be
formed and he was a founding director. He often said that he liked to start
worthwhile projects and then "pass the torch" to others who shared his
vision and would make good things happen. As a finalist in three Olympic
games and a Champion of many good causes, Bert lit and passed the torch many
times. He had a wonderful way of needling you until you realized he was
passing one of his torches to you.

I know we'll all miss him very much.

A gathering of family and friends will take place on Sunday from 2-5 at the
Burloak Canoe Club, 150 Water Street in Oakville. Parking is available on
Water Street and behind the Oakville Public Library.

David Auger
Beach Canal Lighthouse Group
(905) 681-6233

 

[scotto]

Beach-loving Bert spawned a canoeing dynasty

Hamilton Spectator File Photo

By Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton SpectatorBurlington (Mar 29, 2006)
Bert Oldershaw certainly didn't let the grass grow under his feet.

From taking part in three Olympic Games to designing artwork made out of flotsam he found washed up on a Lake Ontario beach, it seemed Bert was always doing something.

His latest passion was working on restoring the old Burlington Canal lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper's cottage. The Beach Canal Lighthouse Group got the lighthouse cleaned only a couple of weeks ago.

"He was a doer right to the end," said his son Dean last night. "He was into everything and anything. He did it all. He was a going concern right to the end."

Oldershaw, who also was one of the last residents to live on the Burlington beach strip before its cottages were cleared for a park, died yesterday morning at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital. He was 84.

His son said he went into the hospital Monday after collapsing at Lakeshore Place, an assisted retirement home he had moved into only two weeks ago to try out.

He was revived in the ambulance on the ride to the hospital, but he never regained consciousness. The family decided to take him off life support and, probably due to his constant activity -- Dean said his father was a "tough guy" -- he lived another 12 hours.

Dean, plus his two sisters Lee and Lynn, were at his side when he died.

Bert's name will be forever associated with the sport of canoeing. Bert, who got his feet wet with the Toronto Island Canoe Club in 1939 and founded the Mississauga Canoe Club in 1957, was a finalist in the 1948 Olympic Games in London, the 1952 Games in Helsinki and the 1956 Games in Melbourne.

He also spawned a canoeing dynasty. Dean and son Reed each represented Canada in kayaking in the 1972 Games in Munich and the 1976 Games in Montreal. His youngest son Scott kayaked for Canada at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Then in 2001 the torch was passed to a new generation. His grandson, Mark, won two gold medals at the world junior canoe championships in Brazil.

During the Second World War, Bert worked as a tool machine designer, assembling anti-submarine devices. Later, he embarked on a career in creative sales and promotion, starting Oldershaw Sales in 1967.

His son said he had a sense of humour right up to the end.

He joked about talking to old people and they were probably younger than him, his son said.

Bert is survived by his five children Dean, 59, Reed, 55, Scott, 53, Lee, 52, and Lynn, 49. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His wife Marcelle, from whom he was separated after 37 years of marriage, died in a car crash.

Bert is scheduled to be cremated today. The family is holding a memorial at the Burloak Canoe Club, 150 Water St., in Oakville this Sunday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

His sons are planning to spread his ashes at some of the places where he enjoyed his love of canoeing and other pursuits. This will probably include Toronto Island, the Credit River and the site where his cottage on Burlington Beach used to stand.

dnolan@thespec.com

905-526-3351

Photo-Bert Oldershaw will forever be associated with the sport of canoeing. He was a finalist in the 1948 Games in London, the 1952 Games in Helsinki and the 1956 Games in Melbourne.