Mr. Speaker, no one elected has served the City of Kirkland longer than John Meaney, who sadly left us last month. First elected to city council in 1975, John served as mayor from 1994 to 2013. All told, he led Kirkland from a town of about 7,500 into a populous and prosperous Montreal suburb of 21,000, doing so with an efficient decision-making style and practical common-sense approach.

John Meaney was a proud Irish Montrealer born in the iconic downtown neighbourhood of Griffintown. In 2008, in a fitting honour, he was named Grand Marshall of Montreal’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day parade; and, in 2012, Montreal’s Irishman of the Year.

I ask members to join me in offering our sincerest condolences to John’s wife Evelyn and daughters Sharon, Colleen and Laurie.