Emmett Mathias Joseph Johns (April 3, 1928 – January 13, 2018), was a Canadian priest and humanitarian. He was the founder of Dans la Rue (originally known as Le Bon Dieu Dans La Rue), a homeless shelter and support group for street youth in Montreal, Quebec.

Life and career

Emmett Johns, who was of Irish descent, was born on April 3, 1928 in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood of Montreal. He graduated with a BA from Loyola College in 1974. He served as a Catholic priest and vicar at Saint John Fischer Parish in Pointe-Claire, Our Lady of Fatima in Saint-Laurent as well as a pastor at Bishop Whelan High School in Lachine and as a hospital chaplain. In December 1988, Johns founded Le Bon Dieu Dans la Rue. With a $10,000 loan, he purchased a used motorhome and took to the streets at night, distributing food and basic goods to street youth, and giving them a place to warm up. Over time, the organization grew to include both a night shelter in 1993 and day centre in 1997, always based on the "help without judgement" philosophy of its founder. Its name was eventually changed to Dans La Rue, to avoid a religious connotation, and continued to offer food, shelter and friendship to homeless youths, as well as the resources and services required to help them get off the street. In 2005, he was a member of the Quebec delegation which attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II. In 2016, Johns retired from active involvement in Dans la Rue due to Parkinson's disease.

Death

He died peacefully in a retirement home in Montreal on January 13, 2018, aged 89.

Recognition and honours

Johns received many honours and awards for his work, including: 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2016