Edward (Ted) Cheskey
1957-2026
How Birdsong Changed My Life (a poem by Ted Cheskey)
If birds are the messengers
Then what is the message?
Should I be joyful or be sad?
Is the message good or is it bad?
Who am I to judge what they say?
Perhaps it is better to get on with my day
But then it wakes me at night, my inquisitive brain
Are they foreshadowing doom, forecasting rain?
Alas, my angst is quelled by the predawn chorus
Filtering into my dreams, taking me deep into the forest
Soft greens surround me
Thrushes’ fluted notes my lullaby
Carry me to a better place
Now I go there when the message is too heavy
We share in celebrating Ted’s extraordinary life. Although it ended too soon, it was rich with love and friendships, appreciation of nature, and music.
Ted was born in Toronto in 1957 to Theodore (Ted) and Angela, who both were important in nourishing Ted’s love for family, nature and athleticism. His childhood was spent first in Toronto and then in Milton with his beloved brother Robert (Bubber). His half sister, Edith, lives in the UK, and they were able to connect later in life. He fondly remembers his first camping trips with his brother and father. He relished sharing stories involving the collapsing cot and adventures along the Bruce Trail. He went on to pursue his interest in environmental studies at the University of Waterloo, and transformed his passion into an epic Master’s titled Planning for the Birds: an Approach to Ecologically-Based Strategic Planning in the Grand River Forests.
Ted’s energy and zest for life was infectious to all who knew him. He loved to take his beautiful red prospector canoe out camping in the late summer and fall where he would listen to loons singing and take in the migration; a tradition that he passed down to his children and grandchildren. He mushroomed avidly, and always took delight in identifying new species of fungi he did not recognize. This, however, was not without incident as his daughter can attest. He felt great joy skiing with his grandchildren. Each winter he would set his mind on the Gatineau Loppet, where he would love to push himself to his physical peak while skiing on some of his very favourite trails.
On October 10, 2006, Ted and Cristina happened to be seated next to one another as they travelled by train. This chance encounter planted the seed on which they built a beautiful relationship and marriage full of adventures, love, community and family.
Ted also maintained a strong connection with Bakiss, the mother of his two children; Sitelle and Camille as well as their spouses: Graham and Rebecka. He fondly took on the role of Vovô as he formed very strong bonds with his grandchildren Cédric, Catherine, Ophélia and Vivianne. He could reliably be found laughing his heart out playing robot, jumping on a stomp rocket, trying to convince them to be Habs fans (successfully), and teaching them the joys of inventing songs about their lives.
Ted was extremely active in the birding community. His passion was highlighted with the creation of the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory he co-founded 26 years ago, and recently culminated with the project Flying with Shorebirds from James Bay to Brazil with Nature Canada. He believed that Indigenous-led conservation and reconciliation are the only path forward. He tirelessly volunteered his (and his family’s) time conducting bird counts and authoring chapters in three editions of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. Everyone who knew him eventually learned to identify more birds than they thought possible by sound and appearance, and his family continues the proud tradition of being as excited by a friendly chickadee as they are by a rare lifer. He was a Master Bird Bander, banding many thousands of birds and training new Bird Banders to document their migration and behaviour. He was elected to the Council of BirdLife in September 2026. The last time he felt the sun and wind on his face was the first day of autumn; and this was the day he left us.
Ted is fondly remembered wearing his colourful Nicaraguan bird shirts and his hat, with his binoculars around his neck. These colours were a manifestation of the colour he brought to all of our lives through his stories, laughter, and music. He regularly jammed with family and friends on guitar, spoons, drums, or any improvised instrument if the mood struck him. He loved improvising and would turn even the most mundane activities into fun rhythmic songs. He sang a vast repertoire with everything from the classic Québecois tune au bord de la fontaine to the Tragically hip’s Ahead By a Century.
We are inspired by Ted’s tireless work to make our world a better place; and we all will strive to continue in this legacy. Ted felt lucky to have special bonds with nature. He wrote “as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to know about those with whom I share the air, the water and the soil. The more I know about them, the more I feel a sense of community and don’t feel alone.” He was convinced that “Nature doesn’t need us, but we need Nature” and as a passionate educator, he successfully instilled a respect and love for nature in many people.
As we remember Ted, we have already held a private ceremony, and his celebration of life is being planned for spring 2027 (more details will be forthcoming). In his memory, we welcome donations to the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory.
https://bpbo.ca/support-us/donate-through-canada-helps/#donation-form
*Poem and quotations were taken from a blog written by Ted himself: https://our-languages.canada.ca/en/blogue-blog/rencontre-avec-les-oiseaux-how-birdsong-changed-my-life-eng
