'He's given us this tremendous gift': Founder of Brigadoon Village dies at 49

The founder of a Nova Scotia camp for kids with chronic illness is being remembered for his unshakable passion and determination tocreate a place where children knew they belonged.

Dave McKeagedied Sunday at the age of 49.

He was the driving force behind Brigadoon Village, a camp that opened in the Annapolis Valley in 2011 for kids with chronic illnesses andspecial needs. He was also a husband andfather.

"He's changed so many lives and so many kids' lives. That's a pretty powerful legacy to leave behind," said Joachim Stroink, a former MLA and friend of McKeage's who helped him found the camp.

For some kids, theweeks spent at Brigadoon are the first time they don'tfeel alone, saidthe camp's executive director.

"He's given us this tremendous gift and legacy of Brigadoon," saidDavid Graham.

It was McKeage's own battle with cancer that prompted him to spend many years working to open Brigadoon Village.He was diagnosed at the age of 11, and at 15 began volunteering with The Canadian Cancer Society, eventually becoming a staff member with Camp Goodtime.

McKeage's death leaves a big hole in theorganization, said Graham.

"But his legacy is the transformation that's going to occur in these children's lives, and then conversely what's going to occur in our region with these children being so profoundly affected by their experience at Brigadoon," he said.

Camp welcomes hundreds of kids

This year, the camp welcomed 712 kids and Graham expects they'll have over 800 next year. He said in just seven short years, the non-profit organization has become the largest pediatric illness camp in the country.

Stroink, who met McKeage20 years ago, said his friend'spassion and determination was infectious.

"He was the most passionate, drivenindividual who truly believed in his dream and when he spoke, you followed his dream," he said.

"That's all he wanted to do was create a space where kids could play and share their stories with each other."

Stroink said it's now up to Nova Scotians to carry on the dream that McKeage created with Brigadoon Village. He'd like to see more camps built on the same model right across the country.

Brigadoon's humble beginnings

Brigadoon started small with McKeageandDayleO'Neilworking out of theattic of the Trail Shop, whichStroinkowns. Back then, there were no campers and programs or even buildings.

There was only a piece of land andMcKeage'sdetermination to see his visionbecome a reality, said O'Neil.

"You're blessed to be his friend because he puts that same tenacity and work into making people feel confident and loved and heard," she said."He'sjust someone that you can go and talk to about anything. I'm just having a hard time imagining that we're not going to have those conversations anymore."

McKeagewas never interested in the spotlight, said O'Neil, but telling his story was how Brigadoon was built.

"He had to tell his experience with cancer, his experience with camp. That actually took a lot out of him emotionally," she said. "But he did it because it was what he had to do to make this happen. So he was very selfless in that way."

She said McKeage'slegacy "is endless," reaching beyond the children and families he helped through Brigadoon.

"His legacy goes beyond even that just to how he touched every day people and built his family," said O'Neil.

McKeage is survived by his wife and young son.