Ian was my parish priest and personal friend since he was my pastor in Canmore. He was a wondeful friend and an inspiration to all who knew him. Rest in Peace my friend and thanks for all my wonderful memories.

Fr. McRae was pastor at St. Paul’s in Airdrie when we met him. He always spoke of “the good God” and we were honoured when he baptised our two sons. We have him on tape grinning in our living room as he watched a re-enactment of the Nativity as performed by our then 7-year-old daughter for a Brownie Religion in Life Emblem, with the no-so-cooperative assistance of her 4-year-old brother as Joseph — and throughout in the background, a very unhappy infant brother’s choral contribution. He was much loved and greatly missed when he left.

I was very sorry to hear of Father Ian’s death. I absolutely adored him when I was a student in Owen Sound and he took on the task of directing the youth. He was funny and caring and just what we young teens needed at the time. God bless him.

As a young seminarian at the time, I fondly remember Ian as a new priest in the seminary in Toronto. He was a great guy. He’s in my prayers.

May you rest in peace Fr. Ian

You helped me so much, more than you probably knew in the confessional that day some years ago… rest in His Arms my friend, you will be missed…

I praise and thank our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for Ian, whom I came to to know and love through his participation at the Live-In Retreats over the last few years. May the Lord grant Ian eternal peace in his heavenly home. I will miss your comical ways.

Peter

He was indeed a special friend and even mentor of how to be a holy and dedicated priest. He loved the outdoors and the mountains and passed that same love of hiking and the wilderness on to me. I’ll miss him deeply.

As a newly ordained priest, I first met Father McRae at Sacred Heart in Canmore in 1975. Over the years he was mentor, counselor and friend. He was a priests’ priest. Eternal Rest grant unto him O Lord!