Morley Kells

Par Rad Joseph 

Dynamic Careers including being a Lacrosse Hall of Famer

Morley Kells

Member of the Legislative Assembly

Born in Midland in 1936 and raised in Mimico Ontario, Morley Kells had three careers – one as a journalist and secondly as a member of Progressive Conservative party provincial government. He was also well known for being a dynamic lacrosse coach.

Working as a journalist, Morley Kells wrote for the Toronto Telegram newspaper. In addition, he held the position of communications account executive for MacLaren Advertising. From 1965 to 1970, he served as the creative director for Hockey Night in Canada. From 1990 to 1995, he was president of the Urban Development Institute of Ontario. 

As a politician, Mr. Kells was elected as an alderman in Etobicoke in 1976, and won a controller's seat in 1978. He ran for mayor Etobicoke in 1980, but was defeated. In addition, Kells was an unsuccessful candidate for Toronto City Council.   

He then moved onto provincial politics when from 1981 to 1985 and again from 1995 to 2003, he served briefly as a cabinet minister. In addition, he was unsuccessful in his attempt as a candidate for Toronto City Council in the 2010 municipal election.

As  a lacrosse player, Kells played from 1954 to 1961 and was a member of the 1955 Minto Cup champion Long Branch Monarchs. When his career ended as a ;player, Morley Kells coached during the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1969, he helped the Lakeshore Maple Leafs a team who went onto to win the Minto Cup in 1970.

FORMER POLITICIAN Morley Kells played on the 1955 Long Branch Monarchs. He is holding a team jacket and crest. (Photo by Tom Godfrey)

Morley Kells was exceptionally active with various lacrosse endeavors. In 1974–75, he co-founded the National Lacrosse League with six teams in Canada and the United States.

Coaching the NLL Long Island Tomahawks

For his efforts, in 1976, Morley Kells received the Lester B. Pearson Award for contribution to lacrosse. He was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1976 and became a charter member of the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum in 1997. In 1999, he was chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League.

Without question, Morley Kells’ contribution to lacrosse has been significant running over three decades. He is remembered for being an exceptionally colourful coach who wore his passion for lacrosse openly.