John King: A champion for Elmwood
Advertisement
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/04/2022 (421 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
On March 4, 2022, Elmwood lost one of its favourite sons. John King left us suddenly, leaving behind not only his loving family and many, many friends, but a community that benefitted enormously from his lifelong activism.
John’s love for Elmwood was deeply rooted in his sense of fairness, particularly when it came to young people. For any community to grow and prosper, John knew young people needed opportunities to do the same. He wanted to give back, and he did so royally.
John grew up in Elmwood and graduated from Elmwood High School in 1970. In 1978, he married the love of his life, Linda, who lived just down the street from the King household on Johnson Avenue, and together they raised three children, Bret, Ashley, and Meghan.
John’s professional career centred on youth in crisis until he retired after 37 years service with the federal government. His early life experience as an accomplished athlete eventually led him to coaching when his kids began playing sports. Boxing, hockey, baseball, and curling came naturally to John, who honed his athletic skills at the nearby Kelvin Community Club. Notably, John represented Manitoba in the 1971 Canada Games as a boxer and was a Golden Gloves champion.
John was so proud of his children and grandchildren, never missing a practice, game, or activity. When he wasn’t walking his dog Nikki-Ryan in Glenelm, he was doing background work in the Winnipeg film industry. He especially enjoyed his time working on the western TV show, The Pinkertons.
John truly left his mark on in the Glenelm and larger Elmwood area in his formidable advocacy for safe spaces for youth. In 2006, when city hall closed and tore down the Kelvin Community Club, John was instrumental in leading the fight to preserve it. A few short years later, John was a driving force in its restoration as the Clara Hughes Recreation Park, work that is still in progress. He was a founding member of the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association, a member of the North East Winnipeg Historical Society and the Elmwood Bear Clan, and enjoyed working all day long at Happy Days on Henderson neighbourhood celebration. John seemed to be everywhere, and while his straightforward, sincere and thoughtful counsel will be greatly missed, we can be ever grateful to have known him.
If you have any questions about provincial programs, feel free to contact me at 204-415-1122 or email me at jim.maloway@yourmanitoba