Priest.
Born at Toronto, Ontario on 21 March 1943 to Helen Mary Harrington Turner (1908-1996) and James Hamilton Covert Massie (1906-1978), he was a part of the Jesuit community and entered the priesthood in 1972. Before coming to Winnipeg, he served as a teacher at Brébeuf College School at Willowdale, Ontario; pastor at St. Andrew’s Church at Thunder Bay; pastor at St. Peter Claver Church at Kingston, Jamaica, where he was also chaplain to prisoners on death row; and pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Toronto.
In 1971, under his guidance, a Jesuit retreat at Muskoka, Ontario was converted into Camp Ekon, where young people gathered in the summer to take advantage of the opportunity to form a community of service. He was a director of the camp for many years. After its 53 years of existence, it closed in 2024 due to financial strains on Jesuit projects and endeavours.
In Winnipeg, he served as pastor at St. Ignatius Church and as the Religious Superior of the Winnipeg Jesuit Community. His eloquent preaching attracted many, and he was highly regarded for his common sense and his skills in leadership and administration.
He died at Winnipeg on 3 May 2009 and was buried in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 May 2009.
“Brian R. Massie,” Armstrong Family Tree, Ancestry.
“Camp Ekon,” ekon.ca.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 9 April 2025
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
