Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the former member of Parliament for Kitchener, Joe Flynn.
Joe Flynn died Monday morning in Kitchener. He served in the House between 1974 and 1979. He retired in 1979. After that, he took up a position on the Canadian Pension Commission where he served with distinction until 1984.
Joe Flynn is remembered best as a son of Ireland. Joe talked endlessly about Irish tales, the Irish past and his own Irish heritage.
He was born in Ireland in County Cork in 1921 and came to Canada in 1925. He came, like nearly all Irish immigrants, as a poor boy from a poor family. But as the greatest Irish poet of this century once wrote, "but being poor I have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet". Those dreams for the Flynn family led very far.
The dreams that his parents spread out beneath the Flynn feet led one son to the House of Commons as the member for Kitchener and another son to the office of the chair of Metro Toronto and unfortunately to the Conservative Party. But Joe was the Liberal member for Kitchener with great pride between 1974 and 1979.
In 1939 when war broke out, Joe Flynn joined His Majesty's Canadian Navy, with more emphasis on the Canadian than on His Majesty. He served with great courage during the second world war.
In 1948 he came to Kitchener and raised his family in that city. His role in the community was notable. I list a few of his accomplishments, probably the major one being that he raised seven children in the city of Kitchener. Today several of his children occupy posts of considerable distinction.
He was active in the Knights of Columbus, the Sales and Ad Club. He was the past president of the K-W Blue Line Club and the founding director of the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club. Many of us who attended Rangers games remember Joe's booming voice when he sang with great pride O Canada. He was a founding member of St. Teresa's Catholic Church and at the House of Commons chaired the committee on veterans affairs.
He was a model immigrant. He was a model resident of Kitchener. He was a wonderful member of this House.
Today, I would like to recall Joe Flynn and the many memories he has given us and to express on behalf of all of us our sympathy to Betty and the family. Kitchener will miss Joe Flynn very much.