City hall is considering naming three streets in a new subdivision to memorialize a Maple Ridge man killed in a Las Vegas mass shooting.
The site was once a farm where he grew up, and his parents are moved by the gesture from developer Morningstar Homes.
The new 104-home subdivision off Silver Valley Road would have Jordan Way, Seymour Avenue and McIldoon Place.
“These names are chosen to honour Jordan Seymour McIldoon, a Maple Ridge resident and member of the community who lost his life in the tragic events of the 2017 Harvest Music Festival,” a staff member told city council at a Nov. 25 meeting.
The 23-year-old was one of 59 people killed and more than 500 injured after a gunman with an automatic weapon in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino fired down on the crowd attending the concert.
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His mother Angela McIldoon told council this week how much it meant to her. In March, it will be 40 years ago that she and husband Alan moved to the acreage.
“It came with fuzzy wallpaper, green appliances, red shag carpet ,and a leaky roof, but we loved living there,” she said.
“Jordan was born in 1993, and it was really idyllic, he had his bikes, his dirt bike, his pony… it was just a wonderful place to live.”
The proposal for the street names came as a surprise, and brought back good memories.
“Alan and I laughed out loud with pure joy,” she told council.
They drove back to see the old farm, which will soon be a subdivision.
“People are going to be doing their gardening and they’ll find Jordan’s golf balls, because he used to like to hit golf balls out the back. And they’ll be like ‘Where did this golf ball come from?’ We know where it came from.”
Jordan was their only child. They helped keep his memory alive with a new bike park in his name beside Blaney Hamlet, on two acres of land donated by the city. It’s called the Jordan McIldoon Legacy Bike Skills Park.
Through their tragedy, the couple has appreciated support.
“Our story is a horrific one, let’s face it,” said Angela, “and yet it’s a story just filled with so much wonderful people, and beauty, and joy.”
There has been healing and help, and “people are still trying to lift us up, and carry us, so we’re very grateful.”
The memorial names were supported in committee, and staff recommended the bylaw be given three readings at the next meeting of council.
“It’s an honour to be able to do the small things that mean big things to your family, and to the community,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy.