Mississauga’s ‘Dean of Bay Street’ Ketchen dies at 85

Mississauga’s Fred Ketchen, the former director of equity training with ScotiaMcLeod and radio and TV personality, has died at 85.

Ketchen, who would become known as the “Dean of Bay Street,” started a career at the age of 22 in trading at McLeod, Young, Weir & Company Ltd., which became ScotiaMcLeod in 1957.

Named senior vice president and director of equity in 1988, he would spend an impressive 57 years at the company until he retired in 2014.

He would become a governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1989 and served as a vice-chair for two years, before being elected chair in 1993. 

Ketchen was Chairman of the Trillium Health Partners Foundation in Mississauga. An active member of the community he lived in his entire life, Ketchen was always charitable and donated $5 million to the Trillium foundation in 2014. 

Initially, he sought a career in journalism and worked as a Saturday evening DJ for an Oakville radio station.

His deep, rich voice would be heard over the years with regular appearances on Newstalk 1010, Global Television and CJAD 800 in Montreal. 

The Industry Association of Canada (IIAC) presented him with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2012 for his career in the investment industry and in 2015 Ketchen was inducted into the IIAC Hall of Fame.

“His commitment to his industry was surpassed by his commitment to family,” his obituary said.

Ketchen, who had a “dad” sense of humour, was known as a sharp dresser. 

“He owned and still wore shoes that were older than his daughter,” the obituary said. “His collection of ties and pocket squares was unrivalled.”

Ketchen, who died at his home on February 11 surrounded by loved ones, was beloved farther to Sherilyn (Jason), loving Papa to Jack Cooke and Hudson Cooke, devoted brother of Ken (Donna), George (Eleanor), Dianne (Ed), Jeanne, and Marlene (David).