A new public park in Lakeshore will be named after a long-time community volunteer and former councillor.
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Thursday for a new space in Comber, named for Linda McKinlay. Lakeshore Council approved the naming of the space for McKinlay at its May 20 meeting.
The square, which had the working title Comber Gathering Centre, was acquired by the Municipality of Lakeshore last year under a community support agreement with Hydro One.
"We are proud to honour and recognize a leader of the community of Comber by naming this new space after Linda McKinlay," said Mayor Tracey Bailey. "Linda has contributed to the community of Comber, as well as all of Lakeshore, for over five decades. Her work on Council for Lakeshore, as well as Tilbury West, is just a part of the incredible impact she has had on generations of community organizations and residents."
McKinlay served on Tilbury West council from the late 1980s until it was amalgamated into Lakeshore in 1999. She was elected to Lakeshore Council in 2010 and served three terms, retiring in 2022.
She has been active for decades in community activities, including 25 years as a board member for the Comber Agriculture Society, and 45 years with the Comber Chapter of IODE. McKinlay has also in the past served as a baseball coach, PTA member, and Brownie leader.
Construction on the space will begin within a few weeks, with a public opening set for later this year.