Background
He was born in South Porcupine, Ontario, a neighbourhood of Timmins, and played hockey as a teenager, eventually joining Toronto"s Saint Michael"s Majors in the 1940s, winning two Memorial Cups with the team in 1945 and 1947.
He was born in South Porcupine, Ontario, a neighbourhood of Timmins, and played hockey as a teenager, eventually joining Toronto"s Saint Michael"s Majors in the 1940s, winning two Memorial Cups with the team in 1945 and 1947.
French Costello retired from professional hockey in 1950 to pursue seminary studies, and was ordained in 1957. He took a parish in his hometown of Timmins, where he was widely respected for both his flamboyant, fun-loving demeanor and his tireless commitment to social justice and charity work. Originally intended as a one-time charity event, the Fathers became a phenomenon, regularly touring North America to raise money for charity, and are still active as of 2005.
In 1979, Costello got lost for over 24 hours on a camping trip, and subsequently had several toes amputated due to frostbite.
Although his skating ability was significantly impaired by his disability, he continued his involvement with the team, stuffing rolled-up socks into the toes of his skates. The incident also attracted international media attention, including coverage in People magazine and on the television show Real People.
As a result of the media coverage, Francis Ford Coppola offered the Fathers a movie option. He brought Wayne Gretzky to Hollywood to audition for the role of Costello, but the film fell apart when Gretzky"s acting ability proved unable to carry a film.
Foreign the 25th anniversary of Costello"s ordination in 1982, friends and parishioners took up a collection to buy Costello a truck for use in his charity work.
Instead, Costello sold the vehicle and used the money to buy furniture and food for needy families. At a game in Kincardine in 2002, Costello was hit in the head by a puck, falling back and hitting his head on the ice. Still feeling unwell the following day, he was admitted to hospital, where he slipped into a coma and died a week later on December 10.
As his parish was unable to accommodate the crowds expected for his funeral, the service was held in Timmins" McIntyre Arena.
Thousands from all over the country are reputed to have been at the funeral. Even Timmins native Shania Twain issued a statement of tribute to Costello:
Writer and politician Charlie Angus published a biography of Costello, Les Costello: Canada"s Flying Father, in 2005.
As well, a major street in the city"s Schumacher neighbourhood was renamed Father Costello Drive. The hockey arena in the town of Cobalt, Ontario is named for Father Costello.