Through 50 years of marriage, Douglas and Anne Skeates have become known and respected for heralding conservation and compassion. After meeting on a blind date in London, England, they were married in Forest Hill United Church on April 11, 1960.

In honour of their Golden Anniversary, their five children are hijacking their father’s weekly column, jostling to toast their parents.

They’re here, in birth order:

“From an early age, Mom and Dad have been my creative supporters, in-home patrons, soundboards and physical helpers,” says Diana, a Contemporary Celtic Artist.

“First it was with hand-painted candles, taking over Mom’s laundry room with Dad as my manager/ delivery man.

“Next was gingerbread houses and sleighs — Dad as my baker, Mom my decorating consultant.

“As I became a painter, it was Mom who suggested Celtic work. Dad has since been my greetingcard folder and Mom has been my rock for exhibitions. They’ve always honoured my choices. Without them I would not be who

am today nor the artist I am today. Their strength, their support, their limitless patience and their unconditional love are the stuff of myths.”

“In a nutshell, my parents taught me about being socially and

politically aware,” says Robin, an Environmental Engineer. “I’m driven to sustainable community projects because my parents are actively aware, compassionate and involved people.

I participated with them in numerous events, like Miles For Millions. Dad drove Geoff and me throughout Ontario doing cone collecting with his crew—for seed research—and later, inspired, I volunteered, building homes in First Nations communities across Canada.

“Growing up in Africa, England and Canada influenced countless hours of discussions about the impacts of social, political and economic awareness on community development. The gifts my parents shared with me profoundly direct the positive decisions I make in life.”

“One of my favourite memories happened at the cottage on Manitoulin Island,” says Geoff, speaking about the beloved vacation spot on Tobacco Lake.

“There were seven of us and only three beds. Robin and I (ages 12 and 11) shared one. However it began, we started a giggle-fit. There were partitioning curtains and an open ceiling. After 15 minutes, we were extracted and moved to the living area. Next, into the car

at 11 p.m., no less), and 15 minutes later, we were disturbing the neighbours and were brought back inside, separated and finally calmed down enough to sleep. At the time it was very funny but it probably pushed the upper limits of Mom and Dad’s patience. It is from them I learned to allow time for fun and giggles.”

“Though we grew up with no extra money, somehow Mom always found a way to get by. I went to ballet lessons and the boys played hockey,” says Karen-Anne,

Peel Region school teacher.

“They’ve always been there for us, even when they couldn’t be present. As teens, Colin and I spent

summer with them in Thailand, a spectacularly beautiful country. They’re great to vacation with, too. In Costa Rica, along with my husband, Tom, we went up a mist-covered volcano in a beat-up Volvo van with dubious gears and brakes. The highlight was a three-hour jungle trek to see spider monkeys in their natural habitat. We got good and muddy seeing some flora and fauna, and a beautiful Macaw, only to return to find the monkeys waiting for us by the road.”

“I have Usher Syndrome, a disorder that affects hearing and vision,” says Colin, a lecturer in Yokohama.

“As a result, I have had obstacles to overcome. My parents have been instrumental in this process. When I was young, I had a speech therapist but it was my mother who did much of the day-to-day speech correction crucial to training my ears to hear.

“But being able to hear is not the same as being able to listen. learnt this from my father, who is an incredible listener — proven, partially, through his chairing of the odd arguments that invariably used to reign in a household with five kids. It is, in part, through their examples that I now teach others how to speak and how to listen, as a teacher of English in Japan. Thanks Mom and Dad.”

… And Happy 50th Anniversary!