Former policeman earns tribute.
Cst. Adrian Mcnamara founded Passchendale Police Boys Club in 1978 and served as its director for 10 years
I am writing to pay tribute to a local policeman, Cst. Adrian Mcnamara, of Glace Bay, who recently passed away at age 64.
Mcnamara was the definition of a volunteer as he gave countless hours of his own time to help his community, especially youth. He spent his entire life residing in the Passchendale/no.11 and St. Anthony School area of Glace Bay.
In high school, while a member of the Young Christian Students (YCS), Adrian co-coordinated both a winter physical fitness program and summer day camp for area boys and girls. He was assisted by many other young men and women from No.11, all giving their own time to area youth.
In 1977, he joined the Glace Bay Police Department and within a year had founded the Passchendale Police Boys Club, serving as its director for 10 years. The club existed for more than 30 years with later volunteer directors including Emerson Reid, John Treige, Cameron Mcphee, Elmore Cann, Dale Moore, Darryl Macaulay, Dr. Jeffrey Clements and myself.
Over the years, we were assisted by many other volunteer instructors. However, it was Adrian who started it all in our area of town and the club was one of the more successful ones in the Glace Bay and surrounding communities. Adrian was a mentor and natural leader who was very well respected by the boys in the club, the instructors and other clubs` directors. In fact, after he retired from the Passchendale Club in 1987, they presented a trophy to a club member in his honour for community service at the annual closing banquet and awards night.
Weekly floor hockey sessions were the main activity of the club, but under Adrian`s guidance, the boys participated in other activities such as bowling, swimming and roller skating. They also received talks from guest speakers on safety, and drug and alcohol abuse. Also, they participated in community events such as the Branch 40 Legion`s Remembrance Day Service and door-to-door canvassing for the Glace Bay Food Bank.
This club was a staple in the community and hundreds of youth benefitted from it over the years. It also lead to the formation of the Passchendale Police Girls Club, founded and directed by Leona Milley, and later by Betty Macinnis.
The Police Boys and Girls Club movement in Glace Bay was a going concern in the 1970s, 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Most communities within the town and surrounding area had their own club including Passchendale, Caledonia, St. Annes, Bridgeport, New Aberdeen, North St., Hub-table Head, Donkin and Dominion. Each club paid for all of their own activities through dues collection and other fundraisers, such as bar sales, ticket draws and tag days. The Police Departments’ Youth Division, where Adrian worked for many years, oversaw all clubs. Some were directed by police officers, but most were run by other citizens with different types of jobs. All, however, volunteered their time and Adrian was always available to assist when possible. Unfortunately, most clubs have folded over the past few years, partly due to the closure of area school gymnasiums.
Adrian was also responsible, along with fellow policeman Barry Macdonald, for bringing the first Safe Grad Party to industrial Cape Breton. This took place in the mid-1980s for Glace Bay and area high schools.
In 1987, Adrian, along with police officer, Barry Gordon, was awarded the Canadian Medal of Bravery for rescuing two people from a house fire.
In closing, there are many youth in the Passchendale/ Number 11 and St. Anthony School area of Glace Bay who benefitted from the program which Adrian founded and coordinated for several years. All of us, including many who are now parents and grandparents ourselves now, owe a great deal of thanks to Adrian for his many years of dedication and service in providing activities to kids in our area.
My condolences go out to his wife Colleen, daughter Brittany, special nephew Derrick (also a former Boys Club member) and the entire Mcnamara family. Rest in peace my friend and thank you.
Brian Mcphee is a former director, instructor and member of the Passchendale Police Boys Club. He lives in Sydney River.