Alexander McKay, brother of former World-Spectator owner Bert McKay, honored with veteran banner in Reston
November 10, 2025, 11:40 am
Alexander McKay, the brother of Bert McKay who owned the World-Spectator from 1936 to 1972, has been honoured with a veterans banner at Reston Memorial Park.
Alexander McKay was born at Rapid City, Manitoba on June 13, 1909. He was the son of Colin and Robina (Grieg) McKay. Colin was an implement dealer at Ebor near Reston, Manitoba with his father John.
The family moved to Reston in 1914 and Colin died young at 37 years old.
Alex’s brothers were Robert, Duncan and Bert McKay. Robina took in lodgers and was a laundress to raise her four boys in a little house near the Reston Memorial Park.
Alex grew up and went to school in Reston. He worked at the Reston Recorder for a time before joining the Bank of Montreal. He moved around before settling in North Battleford and marrying Ellen Joyce Heys in 1937.
Alex had a career in the Bank of Montreal. He was a member of the Reserve Army in 1939 and decided to enlist in the Army in 1941. He was promoted to Lieutenant in the Saskatoon Light Infantry. After training at Gordon Head, Prince Albert, Winnipeg and Vernon, Alex landed overseas on October 9, 1942 leaving his wife and infant son David.
His tour of duty included such places as England, Africa, Sicily and Italy. It was near Rimini in Italy on September 24, 1944 that he died during a mortar attack at age 35 and was buried at Coriano Ridge War Cemetery.
In 2025, the Virden Oilmen Golf Tournament Fund donated money to the Reston and Area Veteran Banner earmarked to sponsor veterans who no longer had local connections to arrange for the banner. Alexander McKay was one of these soldiers and his banner now hangs in Reston Memorial Park with a view of the house he and his family grew up in.
Alex’s brother Bert McKay was part owner of the World-Spectator in 1936 and became the sole owner five years later, running the business until 1972 when he sold it to the editor, John Meen of Moosomin.
While the World-Spectator is the operating name of the newspaper, to this day the name of the company that owns and operates the World-Spectator is still called McKay Publications. Tweet
