‘Flying Father’ founder honoured in Timmins
Father Les Costello, the late Catholic priest who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a teammate of Bill Barilko, was honoured Wednesday with a statue in his hometown of Timmins.
The statue was unveiled in the Timmins Sports Heritage Hall of Fame, replacing one that was broken last year.
Costello was also a co-founder of the ‘Flying Fathers’ hockey team, which was a way to raise money for charity. He played with that team until his death at the age of 74 in 2002 after sustaining a head injury during a game.
Costello and the team had raised more than $4 million in 40 years for many groups, such as the Dare Program and local minor hockey.
Costello’s nephew and niece said Wednesday he wasn’t one for fanfare, but they are pleased his legacy is being honoured.
“He was very giving,” said Corinne Costello, his niece.
“Everything he did, he did in caring,” added his nephew, John Costello.
“He gave to the community. He gave to all the people in the community, and it was very important to him.”
Ed Pupich from the Timmins Sports Heritage Hall of Fame said they have some items in their collection.
o Download our app to get local alerts on your device
o Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“We have a flying father's sweater, I think we have his skates and so on,” Pupich said.
“We have the pontoon for the Bill Barilko. So it'll be a display under lock and key, we hope.
Officials said the statue and other historic items will be on a pedestal in the McIntyre Community Centre’s main entrance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.