Community Hero: Ted Markle

—by Hillary Handy

Another year is wrapping up. It has been a pleasure to connect with and celebrate some of the incredible people in our community. North Simcoe is home to some fantastic humans who teach us new things, celebrate diversity, show compassion and love in a real way and make this a wonderful place to live.

This issue, we would like to highlight another humble and kind, community-oriented individual as our Community Hero. But he doesn’t feel like a hero and was reluctant to even let us highlight him in this way, he’s just a regular guy.

Meet Ted Markle! You may know him as the Bull of the Woods, writer and photographer, documentor of life in his online publication. His memories and musings are incredibly touching and moving. You may know him as a lover of hockey and organizer of the Braestone Winter Classic Pond Hockey Tournament, which raises funds for the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre. He has been called the Human Zamboni because of all the time he spends on the ice…literally on the ice. You may know him as the organizer of Endless Summer at Braestone, another fundraiser for the Cancer Centre.

He is a father, grandfather and seems to make friends wherever he goes! He is also a notable seasonal ambassador of Santa Claus and lover of Christmas. We know him as a philanthropic, community-centric individual.

Ted has been involved in many community initiatives and organizations and has held positions on the board of the Mariposa Folk Festival, Orillia Museum of Art & History, and Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. He has also served in the City of Orillia Economic Recovery Task Force. These are just some of the ways he has served our community in meaningful ways.

Ted has not always called the Orillia area his home. Hailing from Montreal initially, where he had a successful career in print and digital media, he now lives in Oro-Medonte with his partner, Sue, and dog, Ruby.

A few years after his move, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, his cancer is not cured, but now at bay. While Ted was healing from navigating his own diagnosis and treatment, Ted’s brother Jeff was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer which affected his esophagus, stomach, and liver. Jeff, unfortunately, was not as lucky as Ted, and sadly passed away on July 29, 2021.

This loss sparked the idea of the Braestone Winter Classic, as the two brothers loved playing hockey as kids and in old-timer tournaments. Jamie Massie, owner of Braestone Farm and a family friend, suggested they host a community event and fundraiser for the Cancer Centre at the farm. The tournament is in memory of his brother, with the Jeff Markle Memorial Award for the player who stands out with their camaraderie, humour, and passion for hockey. It is also incredibly meaningful that the goal is to raise funds for cancer care services in our region, knowing that the Markle family has endured so much and been personally impacted by the devastation of cancer.

Earlier this year, Ted stepped out of retirement and into a new role as the new Executive Director of Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia. His passion for the care of others is evident. His personal experiences with loss certainly shape his understanding of end-of-life care and the important role this has for community members and their families.

For your ongoing commitment to your community and love for people at the forefront of all you do, despite great loss and personal challenges, we celebrate Ted Markle as North Simcoe Life’s Community Hero for this issue. We are thankful for your commitment to supporting so many in our community.

Do you know someone who is pretty great, but would never say so? Nominate them today to be featured as our next issue’s Community Hero: info@northsimcoe.life.