BY KEITH LACEY
Friends who knew Father Brian McKee say he would be thrilled to have a city street named in his honour.
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Father McKee |
Thursday evening, members of City Council will vote on a motion to approve a bylaw to rename part of Solidarity Lane between Larch Street and Brady Street as Brian McKee Lane.
The motion also stated the unopened lane leading north to Van Horne Street to St. Casimir?s Church be named Solidarity Lane.
The request was forwarded to city staff by Knights of Columbus, Council 1387. The Knights of Columbus have requested this lane because their Council Hall is the only facility fronting and addressed on this lane.
?Father McKee was a member of this council and a great community leader and we felt it only right we honour him by naming a city street after him,?
Tony Sottile, Deputy Grand Knight of Council 1387, told Northern Life.
The Knights of Columbus first approached city staff with the idea of naming a city street after McKee almost two years ago and the thousands of people who knew and respected McKee will be very pleased, said Sottile.
The bad news is McKee passed away 16 months ago before he could be recognized with this special honour, said Sottile, who will make a presentation to council Thursday evening before council votes on changing the street name to Brian McKee Lane.
McKee was an active priest and community leader for more than 50 years across this city.
He devoted his time, talent and energy in founding numerous charity organizations which thrive to this day, including the Catholic Charities, downtown soup kitchen and Sudbury and district boys? home.
He was also a founder and player with the Flying Fathers? hockey team, which has helped raise millions of dollars over the past few decades playing in charity games across North America.
Sottile said McKee deserves this honour and naming a street in his honour will ensure the good work he accomplished over so many years won?t be forgotten.
?He was a very prominent member of this community who was always there to assist people who had fallen on hard times,? he said.
?Naming a street after him is a great way to memorialize his name and remember everything he did to make this community a better place.?
Father John Caswell, priest at Christ the King Church, knew McKee for over 55 years and considered him one of his best friends.
He?s thrilled the Knights of Columbus have stepped up to the plate and asked a city street be named in honour of his good friend.
?It?s very important we take steps to recognize people who have made such an important impact on this community,? said Caswell. ?Father McKee was a great priest, particularly for the poor and especially for the young who were poor.
?Some of the organizations he founded still play a significant role in helping the poor. Naming this street after him is a great way to remember what he?s done for this community.?
