Alfred H. McCoy, was a business leader in Stittsville and led the village in the progress of local recreation programs and facilities. Alf, as everyone knew him, was instrumental in ensuring that a baseball field, tennis courts and an outdoor skating rink were installed on the current site of the Carleton Apartments on Carleton-Cathcart Street back in 1950’s and 60’s. For a time, the area was known as the A.H. McCoy Park and provided a hub of all-season sports activity for those of us who grew up in Stittsville.
Alf McCoy was born on Mansfield Road in the former Goulbourn Township and entered the trucking business when he was young. Finally transitioning to the road construction business, Mr. McCoy partnered with fellow Stittsville resident William J. Bell to form the McCoy-Bell Construction Company in the 1940’s. The company eventually went separate ways, leading to the founding of the A.H. McCoy Construction Company.
Mr. McCoy provided jobs for many Stittsville residents in the 1950’s and 60’s — A.H. McCoy Construction was one of the leading Eastern Ontario road construction companies during that time.
In 1963, the Village of Stittsville passed a motion to create the A.H. McCoy Park, but in the 1980’s, persuasion by developers led to the construction of Carleton Apartments for seniors where the park was located. When the Stittsville Community Centre was constructed and opened in 1971, soon after, the tennis courts would be newly located at Alexander Grove Park; and, the baseball teams also moved to the existing ball diamonds at the ‘Grove’. No need was evident for the outdoor rink as Stittsville finally had an indoor facility, hence the rink too went by the wayside. As did A.H. McCoy Park.
In recognition of his extensive community service and contributions to advancing recreation programs in Stittsville, the City of Ottawa has received a proposal to name the West Ridge Park B, Alfred McCoy Park. This commemorative naming proposal seeks to honour Alfred McCoy’s historical services and donations to the community of Stittsville. It would be welcomed to have a park named for such a progressive and community-minded man – finally a permanent Alfred H. McCoy Park.
If you would like to submit written comments regarding this proposal or obtain further information, please contact:
Coran Graham, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department, 100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8. Tel: 613-580-2424, extension 27551 or by email namingottawa@ottawa.ca(link sends e-mail).
Comments must be made in writing and received no later than July 26, 2019.