On a day heavy with memorial, Collingwood’s fire and police gathered to pay tribute to two of their own who died on duty in 1977.
Sept. 11 has come to be a sombre day for civilians and emergency workers alike, so it was fitting to re-dedicate a local memorial built in honour of Sgt. Ron McKean, a police officer killed in the line of duty in Collingwood, and Fire Chief John Dance, who died while on duty.
Years ago there was a plan for a memorial garden at what was then the Collingwood police and fire station. Yesterday, it was the Collingwood OPP detachment. But the garden was minimal, a plaque and a tree. This summer, the Collingwood Horticultural Society sent volunteers to create a bigger space with a place to sit and reflect. The upgrade started with Detachment Commander Insp. Mary Shannon reaching out to the Collingwood Horticultural Society to ask for help building up the memorial at the Collingwood OPP detachment.
The project received backing from the Collingwood OPP and Collingwood Fire Department as well as the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Sgt. McKean was shot to death by a robbery suspect on Oct. 12, 1977, on Simcoe Street in Collingwood. He had served 10 years of his 14-year career on the Collingwood police force.
He and his wife, Ann Gage, had three children – two sons and a daughter. His son Trevor McKean
Trevor attended the re-dedication ceremony yesterday (Sept. 11) to officially unveil the new memorial garden, and spoke on behalf of his family.
He spoke of his father’s love for Collingwood and his passion for the community. He saw the town as a place where people were good neighbours, and showed kindness to each other. Trevor thanked those who came to the ceremony and who were responsible for the new garden honouring his father’s and Chief Dance’s memories.
“I believe both Chief Dance and Sgt. McKean would be looking down on us today,” said Trevor at the ceremony.
Retired Fire Chief Francis McGuire shared his memories of McKean and Dance as well, having been hired onto the Collingwood Fire Department while Dance was chief.
“He never wanted to put the hose down, and always wanted to be first in,” said McGuire. “I owe a great deal to Chief Dance.”
McGuire was a neighbour to McKean and his family.
“These were two Collingwood boys that served the community,” McGuire said. “I don’t think it’s a number of years when you say service, it’s quality of service. That’s what these two men gave: quality of service.”
The ceremony took place Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Collingwood OPP detachment. The memorial garden faces Ontario Street.
