David McKee

Duly Appointed Town Crier
for
The City of Brantford, Ontario, Canada

“Audible & Laudable”

          David McKee studied clarinet and saxophone with some of the best, including Paul Brodie, Elmer Isler and David Smith, and developed strong breath control and an ear for music.  Then, he studied voice at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and developed a strong voice.  Finally, he put all his talents together and, during fifteen years on stage, developed a vibrant sense of showmanship.

 

         Today, David, often escorted by his good wife, Betty Jean, is proud to be the Official Town Crier of Brantford, a city whose numerous and varied virtues he has announced World-wide since 1991.  He also portrays Alexander Graham Bell, Red Cross founder, Henri Dunant, 1837 rebel, Charles Duncombe and an old fashioned “Father Christmas” (and Santa!) and has appeared as the Narrator in “The Grinch That Stole Christmas” and as guest Narrator with the Kitchener Symphony’s production of “Peter and the Wolf”, as well as several plays staged by Ichthys Productions and Theatre Brantford.  Other performances include a central role on Brantford’s award-winning Economic Development CD ROM, the cries and narration on Tourism Brantford’s promotional videos, scripting and narration on several Brantford Walk of Fame documentaries and Master of Ceremonies for Brantford Downtown Jazz Series, Brantford/Brant County Volunteer Gala, Brantford’s Riverfest and Mohawk Park’s summer concerts. David is also honoured to have been featured on Rogers Cable 20 series “Hometown Heroes”, and was nominated Brantford’s 1999 Citizen of the Year.  In 2004, he was awarded the Ontario Guild of Town Criers Exemplary Service Medal.  However, his greatest honour was receiving the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

 

          In the competitive arena, David placed 2nd at both the 2001 Town Crier World Championships and the 2002 North Americans and, 2nd and 3rd, respectively, at the 2001 and 2004 Lord Mayor of Chester’s Invitational World Tournaments.  From 1997 till 2003 he was the Top Ranking Canadian Town Crier in the World!  The increased attention has placed him in high demand both in Brantford and beyond.  He is also many times Ontario Provincial Champion.

          For any occasion that demands colour and ceremony, David McKee adds a presence that is always “audible & laudable”.

GUILD AFFILIATIONS:

 

Member, Ontario Guild of Town Criers (President, 1995-96), Loyal Company of Town Criers of Great Britain.
Honorary Member, Ancient & Honourable Guild of Town Criers, American Guild of Town Criers, American Association of Town Criers, Australian Guild of Town Criers, Public Criers of Victoria.

 

VOLUNTEER AWARDS:

 

Brantford Regional Chamber of Commerce 1991 & 2000 President’s Award, Province of Ont. 5 and 10 year Volunteer Award, City of Brantford Sesquicentennial Certificate, and certificates of appreciation from many charitable and cultural organizations.

OTHER HONOURS:

 

Featured: Brant Free Press inaugural edition “Community Smile”; Roger’s Cable 20 “Hometown Heroes”.
Nominated: Brantford Citizen of the Year for 1999
Proclaimed the arrival of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth from the steps of the Bell Homestead, June 28, ‘97.
Signatory to the Charter of The American Guild of Town Criers, July 5, 1997.
Awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, January 1, 2003.
Inaugural Shining Star Tourism Awards: Tourism Ambassador (with wife, Betty Jean), October 8, 2003.
Awarded the Ontario Guild of Town Criers Distinguished Service Medal (10 year), October, 2004.

 

COMMUNITY SUPPORT:

 

All City of Brantford official events.
All Chamber of Commerce - Brantford/Brant events
Fund-raising events for many charities including:  The Canadian Cancer Society, The Alzheimer Society, The Heart & Stroke Foundation, The Lung Association, Participation House Brantford, Pinetree Native Centre (Kanata Native Village), The Salvation Army, The United Way, Access Awareness Week, The Brantford & District Literacy Council, Juvenile Diabetes (Canadian Diabetes Assoc.), The Sunshine Dreams for Kids and others.

 

BOARDS & COMMITTEES:

Myrtleville House Museum Board (1994-2000): Chair: 1997, 1998;  City of Brantford Tourism Advisory Board (1995-2007): Chair: 1999, 2000;  Brand Image Judging Committee;  Visitor & Tourism Centre Interior Design Sub-committee;  Walk of Fame Committee;  City’s Committee of Chairs;  Millennium Special Events Committee;  TransCanada Trail Relay Committee;  Families First New Year’s Eve;  Royal Visit Committee (1997);  Drive for Gold;  Bid for Kids Celebrity Sports Auction;  World Record Stilt-walk Committee;  Icthys Theatre Productions Board;  Brantford Regional Chamber of Commerce Trade Show Committee;  Brantford Regional Chamber of Commerce Membership/Ambassadors Committee, Brantford’s Canada Day Committee (Chair: VIP Services).