6 Friday, December 17, 2021 brooklintowncrier.com When Dr. John Henry McKinney put forward the motion to build Brooklin's first arena in 1948, he had two objectives. One was to construct a fitting memorial for the veterans who'd lost their lives in both world wars. The second was to improve the quality of people's health through sport and exercise, a long-standing aim of his. He served as chairman of the Brooklin arena building committee and was instrumental in acquiring the construction materials. McKinney was a leader in the introduction and expansion of health services that included a school nursing service and regular clinics for the prevention of whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. In 1956, he was proactive in the fight against poliomyelitis by ensuring that Brooklin school-aged children were vaccinated. But he didn't stop there. The following year, with the cooperation of the Board of Health, he arranged for preschool children to be given the polio vaccinations as well, thereby saving young lives. Into med school Born into a prominent farming family in 1904, McKinney began his education in a one-room schoolhouse where he discovered his love of science. He attended high school in Brampton then continued his studies at the University of Toronto medical school, graduating as a physician in 1930. He interned for a year at Toronto's Grace Hospital and moved to Brooklin in 1931 with his wife Lillian McMann, a nurse he had met and married while interning. Together, they established a practice in their house at 137 Baldwin Street North. In 1937 Lillian gave birth to a son John Alexander. During his time at university, McKinney underwent officer training and when World War 2 began, he enlisted but was not called up. Instead, he became active with the Red Cross. In addition to his busy medical practice, Dr. McKinney coached Brooklin's first all-female baseball team. And, when he wasn't making house calls or delivering babies at the Oshawa General Hospital, he coached neighbourhood kids on a ball diamond close to his home. Various groups A prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in June, 1952, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ontario. When the Odd Fellows temple was erected, Dr. McKinney became chairman of the building committee. He was also on the Brooklin United Church Board of Stewards for many years. He was also the Whitby Township Medical Officer of Health and a member of the Ontario County Medical Association. Dr. McKinney's wife Lillian passed away on October 7, 1978, and the following year, he married school teacher Christian Simpson. Upon Dr. McKinney's death on July 12, 1998, the McKinney sports complex at 222 McKinney Drive was named in his honour.. The complex opened its doors on October 23, 2004. Dr. John McKinney By Jennifer Hudgins