Compelling Calgarians: Murray McCann

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Murray McCann has experienced much in his 85 years, but a couple of events really hit home.

The first was reading about a survey that showed the morale of the Calgary Police Service was very low, largely stemming from the backlash that emerged from the George Floyd situation in Minneapolis.

“I brought my family up in Calgary and I always felt we had the best police force of anywhere,” said McCann, a well-known local philanthropist. “These are men and women who risk their lives, and I appreciate anybody who walks into danger to protect me.”

Thus, with the help of his grandson, Jackson McDonough, Beacons of Hope was born.

“We started with a website where people could write in their positive experience with police,” McCann said. “It got a bit of a groundswell going. We set up an exhibition, found out people don’t know what goes on in the background. (Police officers) came out with their dogs and their horses, the SWAT team; people could come down and see what a big operation it is to keep us safe. They’re real unsung heroes in our city. It’ll continue next year.”

His second “ah-ha” moment happened while driving near his home in Rome, Ga., and came upon crosses on a hilltop.

“I saw that there were names of soldiers and their ages,” he said. “It absolutely hit me. It made me recognize how many had given up their lives. I pulled over and I started to sob.”

He returned to Calgary with a similar plan and, 14 years later, the annual Field of Crosses event to mark Remembrance Day is still going strong.

“I wanted to do something in Calgary so people could have the same experience I had, and the same awareness and appreciation that freedom isn’t free,” McCann said. “Everybody has adopted this, the 11 days of remembrance we call it, which is unique anywhere in North America. Those 3,600 (fallen soldiers) that were just forgotten will never be forgotten again.”

Privately funded for the first 10 years, Field of Crosses is now a charity.

“We have quite a fine organization and everyone loves what they’re doing,” said McCann. “I’m so appreciative that it will carry on.”