Passed peacefully away on Thursday, October 31 at the Health Sciences Centre, in the warm embrace of family, at the age of 83 years. Ken Meeker was born and raised in Ontario and served in Korea with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He moved to Newfoundland in 1961, where he quickly became established as a writer and broadcast journalist, first with CJON and later with CBC “Here and Now.” Ken had a natural, unaffected presence on-camera, and served as a mentor to many of his fellow journalists. He covered the breaking stories of the day, including construction of the hydro complex in Churchill Falls, the seal hunt and the demise of the Smallwood government. Ken was a trailblazer in his coverage of environmental issues, and his Collect-A-Wreck and litter clean-up campaigns had lasting impacts on the provincial landscape. As well, thousands of people broke their tobacco addiction with Ken through his Quit Smoking Campaign. Ken was a long-time volunteer with the SPCA, where he was known affectionately as “The Bird Man.” He also served on the Mount Pearl City Council from 1997 to 2001. Leaving to mourn his wife, Jean, and four children: Steve (Donna), Geoff (Kathy), Sue Peddle (Chris) and Tom (Kim). The Meeker roots are now permanent in this province, with eight grandchildren: Curtis, Gregory, Kenneth, Scott, Chris, Cameron, Samantha and Zach. Ken is also survived by brothers Howie and Tom (predeceased by Dick and Chuck). Visitation at Barrett’s Funeral Home on Commonwealth Avenue in Mount Pearl, Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. both days, with funeral service on Monday at 10 a.m. also at Barrett’s. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the SPCA. Ken would have liked that.