Father Jim Holland, Pastor at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples for over two decades, celebrated his 73rd birthday on May 4.

As a way to honour Fr. Jim’s positive contributions to the neighbourhood, on that same day 108A Avenue between 95 and 97 Street was renamed Father Jim Way.

Mike Van Boom, of the McCauley Community League, wrote a letter to the City of Edmonton’s Naming Committee on behalf of the League to support the change back in November of 2015. Van Boom was President of the league at the time and is now Vice-President.

Father Jim Holland has been (and continues to be) a catalyst for positive change in McCauley. From the beginning, as he first began his term of service at Sacred Heart, Fr. Jim was seen picking up garbage in the streets and in the park. This simple work snowballed, rallying greater ownership by community members, inspiring them to reclaim their streets and public spaces. He continues to be the vigilant guardian of the playground next to the church, enforcing a ban on public drinking or negative traffic in that park.

For many years now, Fr. Jim has been a strong partner with the league in the creation of the McCauley Skating Rink as a safe and wonderful place for the community to gather. His generosity and work effort have contributed greatly to the vibrancy of the programming there. He even helps cover the water bills from time to time.

Under Fr. Jim’s leadership, Sacred Heart Church has become a gathering place for people from all backgrounds. A spirit of generous hospitality has come to rest over the church community, and it has become something for which Sacred Heart and Father Jim are well known. The McCauley Community League has tasted this generous spirit on countless occasions. For years, community conversations and meetings hosted by the league are given free access to the space downstairs, and the church has been open-handed in the use of its kitchen, tables, chairs, and washroom spaces for any community event.

Father Jim Holland is an inspiring example to many in McCauley, and the league is pleased to support this effort to honour his significant and generous contributions to our neighbourhood.