Ken Thornton turns 100

“I have loved my life,” said Ken Thornton, while ruminating on a century on this earth. “I love life, period.”

There’s no question that Thornton, who turns 100 on Oct. 18, has made very good use of his time. Anyone who knows him – and most people do – are aware that he is constantly learning new things and crossing items off his wish list. 

Famously, Thornton achieved his lifelong dream of joining the RCMP when he was in his 80s, 65 years after the Second World War diverted him from that career path. 

Thornton was born in New Brunswick, in a remote area near St. Stephen. His grandmother was the midwife who attended his birth. 

The family’s first car was a Model T Ford and Thornton, the eldest child with three younger sisters, found himself behind the wheel at age 11.

It was a time when they raised their own livestock, put hot bricks in their beds to take off the chill, mended clothing by hand and neighbours listened in on party lines. Thornton started school at the age of six and had to walk a mile-and-a-half to school, which was common for the time. But at age 14, he had to leave school to work for his father. At age 16 he took over the milk route, which he did for three years. It was on that route that Thornton said he met a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 

“I had always wanted to be a Mountie so bad,” said Thornton. 

The officer advised him on how to proceed with exams and a physical, which were completed. It was while he was waiting to hear back that he received the devastating news that recruitment had ceased because of the war. So he joined RCAF in 1942, serving in the air force for five years. 

Life went on. Thornton wed and raised three children in Oakville, while having two successful careers, one with Imperial Oil and later with an import company. 

But he never let go of that dream of wearing the red uniform of the RCMP. 

“Sixty-five years passed before I had another opportunity to join the Mounties,” said Thornton. 

When he learned the RCMP was forming a new band made up of citizen volunteers Thornton decided to learn how to play bagpipes so he could join, but he’d still have to audition. At the age of 84, he marched onto Parliament Hill as a bona fide member of the Ottawa RCMP Pipes and Drums band. He formed a special bond with the RCMP over his six years with the band. In 2012, RCMP Pipes and Drums created the Ken Thornton Trophy awarded to the band member who most demonstrated the traits and character of the man himself. He once addressed a graduating class at headquarters in Regina and in 2016 Thornton presented the band with a new regimental mace as a gesture of gratitude.

“It was the best years of my life,” he said. “They took me everywhere and I loved it.”

An avid writer, Thornton imbued his novel with his ambition of becoming a Mountie. The Elusive Dream, which he published at 93, is about a young man who finally realizes his dream of becoming an RCMP officer. The novel was a follow up to a book of short stories called A Barnyard Affair, published in 2007. 

Later in life, Thornton also took up the electric organ, violin, harp and even ventriloquism. He set off across North America on a Harley and went back to college.  

“I have had a yen to always have something ahead of me, as a challenge,” he said.

Thornton is also a 65-year Mason, is a Legion member, a parishioner at St. John’s United Church and regular contributor to The Creemore Echo. He has been honoured with several local citizenship awards.

The community is invited to wish Thornton a happy 100th birthday at an open house celebration at Station on the Green in Creemore, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20. 

Best wishes only. Light refreshments will be served.