Goderich, Ont. remembers their beloved mayor
As the sounds of bagpipes rang out across Goderich’s town square, residents stood at attention and businesses closed their doors for their beloved mayor John Grace, who died in a tragic boating accident in Northern Ontario two weeks ago.
“A friend to the entire community. He touched everyone in one way or another. It was a pleasure to do this for him, and the family,” says friend and Goderich Coun. Matt Hoy, who played the bagpipes in Grace’s honour today.
The 64-year-old Grace was laid to rest in Goderich on Tuesday.
Signs of love and support were all over the town, in the form of signs and pictures. Doug Fines, who has called Grace a friend for over 30 years, says he was a self-made man who loved his hometown and loved leading it.
Matt Hoy, a councillor for the town of Goderich, Ont. honours John Grace with bagpipe tribute in Goderich’s town square on August 23, 2022. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“He left town when he was 16, went out on his own. He came back 25 to 30 years later to rebuild his life here in town, and he made such a positive impact on this town,” says Fines.
Whether you knew him for 30 years or 30 days, Grace made you feel like a friend, says Kerry Kucharenko.
“Always said ‘Hi’ to me on the street. Treated me like a friend. Would bump into him all over the place. I can’t say enough about the guy. He did so much for this town of Goderich,” says Kucharenko, who recently moved to Goderich from Oakville.
Grace has been Goderich’s mayor since 2018, and was seeking another term in October. He’s spent 17 years on town council, as a councillor or deputy mayor, leading projects that revitalized Goderich’s square following the 2011 tornado, and the town’s famous boardwalk, damaged in an October 2019 storm, among many achievements.
Community mourners stand at attention during a community-wide moment of silence for Goderich, Ont. Mayor John Grace, as seen on August 23, 2022. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“John was very grounded. For those that were less privileged with housing, he knew where they were. He knew their names, and he had conversations with them. John had a great amount of love for the Town of Goderich, and he had the right intentions for the town moving forward,” says friend and Huron County Warden, Glen McNeil.
“He was our leader, and he got stuff done. And that’s what we needed, and that’s what we’re going to miss,” says Hoy.
Fines adds, “He wasn’t Your Majesty, or Mr. Mayor, he was John. John our mayor, so I think we’re all heartbroken, today."
Following Tuesday's private family and friend funeral service, a public memorial for John Grace is being planned in Goderich for Sept. 10.
John Grace is survived by his wife Wendy and three sons.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Armed suspects at large after 1 person killed, another injured in Wheatland County
Mounties say armed, dangerous and unidentified individuals remain at large after one person was killed and another was wounded in Wheatland County on Tuesday.
'This is the Canada team,' former U.S. ambassador to Canada says of Harris VP pick
Following the news of U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris' pick for a running mate, former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman says he believes the pair would be ideal for Canada-U.S. relations.
Summer McIntosh returns to Toronto after historic Olympic performance
Summer McIntosh is back home in Toronto after making history at the 2024 Olympic Games, but the 17-year-old swimmer admits the reality of her record-breaking performance in Paris hasn’t 'fully sunk in yet.'
Canada updates U.K. travel advisory due to violent clashes between police, protesters
Canada is advising those visiting the U.K. to exercise caution due to ongoing demonstrations and violent clashes between protesters and police.
Saskatoon police find Mackenzie Trottier's body in landfill, lead suspect died in 2023
The body of 22-year-old Mackenzie Trottier, who had been missing since December 2020, was found at the Saskatoon landfill, police confirmed on Tuesday.
A former employee speaks out about Frank Stronach four decades after an alleged assault
Staring out from a sepia-tinged photo is a smiling young woman with her blond hair swept up into a ponytail as she puts hay in a net in a horse stall.
Toronto police investigating after video appears to show officer giving citizen the middle finger
Toronto police say an internal investigation is underway after a video circulating on social media appeared to show an officer giving a citizen the middle finger over an argument about alleged illegal parking last week.
Boxer Imane Khelif advances to gold-medal bout with another victory amid gender misconceptions
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif will press her fight for an Olympic gold medal Tuesday night amid the intense scrutiny over misconceptions about her gender.
U.K. government calls on Elon Musk to act responsibly amid provocative posts as unrest grips country
The British government has called on Elon Musk to act responsibly after the tech billionaire used his social media platform X to unleash a barrage of posts that officials say risk inflaming the violent unrest gripping the country.