Woodwynn Farms: Jerry Nelson

Gosley Dept: A day earlier, Mr. Gosley could be found at a fundraising gathering at Woodwynn Farms, which offers therapeutic programs for the homeless. He strolled the verdant lawns, chatting to children through a puppet called Desmond the Dragon, according to Globe and Mail. Mr. Gosley also worked on the Canadian version of Sesame Street , where he spent nine years operating and providing the deep, rumbling voice for Basil, an amiable Muppet polar bear and the gold-rush character had originally been created by Mr. Gosley more than 30 years ago for a stint at Fort Steele, the heritage town in the Kootenays. He was brought out of mothballs for an event marking Victoria s sesquicentennial celebrations. He designed Desmond in the 1980s during a four-year stint with the popular children s show, Fraggle Rock , where he worked with Jerry Nelson, who handled Gobo Fraggle. Mr. Nelson, best known for handling the Muppet known as the Count von Count, died on Thursday, aged 78. He was bristly but sweet, Mr. Gosley said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.