Chamber of Commerce crowd fetes Keith Hoey at his retirement party.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

June 5th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Hoey crowd

 

After fifteen years in “the best job I ever had”, Keith Hoey began the process of moving into retirement from the job of President of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.

Hoey sly smile

Keith Hoey – the smile that made him fun to work with.

There were four generations of the Hoey family at their table while the former mayor Rick Goldring served as Master of Ceremonies and Rick Burgess, a retired Burlington lawyer spoke of the difference Hoey had made.

Mayor Meed Ward was not able to attend – she was on her way to Europe where she was to take part in the 75th Anniversary of the Canadian troops landing on the beaches France – the beginning of the drive to end the Second World War. There were two members of council in the audience – neither had words from city council.

The remarks from current Chamber of Commerce staff told of how well the organization was run and how direct a manager Keith Hoey was.

The audience learned more about Hoey’s dietary preference, ice cream is apparently a food group and a hamburger with ketchup proves both protein and a vegetable.

Hoey 5 minutes

Keith Hoey: Five more days and I am a retired man.

His golf scores and the manner in which he played the game brought many a chuckle.

Hoey has a sense of humour that is a delight to hear. He told the audience that when he was advised there was going to be a retirement event in his honour he reserved the Chamber Board room – little did he know that the audience would fill the Family Room at the Performing Arts Centre.

Hoey with Nisan

Selling the Chamber story right up to the end. Councillor Rory Nisan soaked it all up.

A replacement for Hoey has yet to be announced – those shoes will be hard to fill.

Hoey was always on the move. We recall a new member orientation class he was giving hours before he was due to head for the airport to take part in a Chamber event.

Hoey was always available for anyone who had an issue or a concern. He was exceptionally effective in creating new issue groups and ensuring the business community voice was heard.

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