Greater Saint John Community Foundation, donors

Miss McKean’s love of the arts was a life-long passion. She had a keen interest in music, art and heritage. Her support for The New Brunswick Museum, the Symphony and the arts in general was unique. Her patronage of them culminated in the establishment of The James Venner Russell Foundation. Her long standing friend of many years, James Venner Russell, shared her love of arts and culture. The James Venner Russell Foundation continues to support these causes including music, drama art and literature, annually in Greater Saint John.

The McKean Family Foundation was established by Mary McKean in honour of her family to benefit a variety of community organizations in Greater Saint John. It has contributed to charitable causes by donating to The Greater Saint John Community Foundation on several occasions. Mr. Kevin M. Riley, Senior Trust Advisor, with Royal Trust Corporation of Canada, trustees of the McKean Foundation, has expressed his confidence in the foundation’s knowledge of the community and the causes they support.

Both Miss McKean and Mr. Russell were firm supporters of the concept that charity begins at home. The two foundations set up to support charities in Greater Saint John, are testament to that principle. Miss McKean’s philanthropy extended to many worthwhile causes. She also left generous bequests to many New Brunswick organizations in the educational, cultural, religious and heritage fields.

THE MCKEAN FAMILY FOUNDATION and THE JAMES VENNER RUSSELL FOUNDATION Mary Kirk McKean, 1918-1995 Mary Kirk McKean was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the only child of George Robert McKean and Myrtle Ivy (Waring) (McKean) Emery. She graduated as class valedictorian from Saint John High School in 1936 and then obtained her Master of Arts degree from Mount Allison University, winning a gold medal in English. She became a teacher of German and history at Saint John High School, where she established a long and memorable career spanning thirty-four years. Many remember the McKean summer residence, once a landmark at Brandy Point on the St. John River. George R. McKean, her father, a lumber merchant, passed away and her mother subsequently re-married. Her stepfather, Alban S. Emery, was a well-known and talented cabinetmaker in Saint John, whose period-styled furniture is highly prized. In later years she and Mr. Emery acquired many commissioned and cherished pieces of his work.

Miss McKean’s love of the arts was a life-long passion. She had a keen interest in music, art and heritage. Her support for The New Brunswick Museum, the Symphony and the arts in general was unique. Her patronage of them culminated in the establishment of The James Venner Russell Foundation. Her long standing friend of many years, James Venner Russell, shared her love of arts and culture. The James Venner Russell Foundation continues to support these causes including music, drama art and literature, annually in Greater Saint John. The McKean Family Foundation was established by Mary McKean in honour of her family to benefit a variety of community organizations in Greater Saint John. It has contributed to charitable causes by donating to The Greater Saint John Community Foundation on several occasions. Mr. Kevin M. Riley, Senior Trust Advisor, with Royal Trust Corporation of Canada, trustees of the McKean Foundation, has expressed his confidence in the foundation’s knowledge of the community and the causes they support. Both Miss McKean and Mr. Russell were firm supporters of the concept that charity begins at home. The two foundations set up to support charities in Greater Saint John, are testament to that principle. Miss McKean’s philanthropy extended to many worthwhile causes. She also left generous bequests to many New Brunswick organizations in the educational, cultural, religious and heritage fields.