By Ken Hunter
I began my career at the Temiscaming Plant in January 1980, right after graduating from college, and plan to retire in June 2025—45 and a half years later!
Over the years, I’ve held various roles, starting as a laborer before moving into construction accounting, lab testing, and supervisory positions in the lab and finishing department. I then spent ten years in purchasing and the last 25 years in fiber procurement and analysis.
My son, Ryan, started playing football in a developmental league before joining his high school team at École Secondaire Algonquin in North Bay, Ontario, winning a championship in grade 10. During a family vacation to North Carolina Ryan attended a football combines camp in Richmond, Virginia with over 100 players and was named the Overall Most Valuable Player at the camp. This led to being invited to other combines in Delaware, Ohio, and Oklahoma. He later played for Canisius High School in Buffalo, winning another championship and earning a full scholarship to Bowling Green State University.
At BGSU, he won two Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles, played in multiple bowl games, and was named Academic All-MAC for four years. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, winning a Super Bowl before joining the Los Angeles Chargers. In 2018, he was drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL, despite being the top-ranked player, as he had already signed with Kansas City. Toronto waited five years, and since joining, he has won two Grey Cups (2022, 2024), been named a CFL All-Star (2023, 2024) and was awarded Top Offensive Lineman in 2024. He recently extended his contract for three more seasons and is training in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lives with his wife Paige and their daughter Meredith.
My wife Louise and I love that he plays close to home, allowing us to attend games in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Montreal. Watching him receive top honors at the CFL awards and celebrating his second Grey Cup was surreal.
His success spans every level—from a junior championship in North Bay to state and collegiate titles, a Super Bowl win, and two Grey Cups.
We couldn’t be prouder!