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 in 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 suffering from Parkinson's disease. Death He died peacefully in a retirement home in Montreal on January 13, 2018, aged 89. Recognition and Awards 2016 • Commander – Ordre de Montréal 2013 • Honorary Member – Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec 2012 • Recipient : Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2011 • Recipient : Contribution to Humanity Award – Montreal Intercultural Dialogue institute • Special concert in his honor by the MSO • Montrealer closest to sainthood – Montreal Mirror ”Best of Montreal readers’ poll” • Recipient : Prix de la tolérance Paul Gérin-Lajoie – Fondation de la tolérance Paul Gérin-Lajoie 2010 • Montrealer closest to sainthood – Montreal Mirror ”Best of Montreal readers’ poll” 2009 • Montrealer closest to sainthood – Montreal Mirror ”Best of Montreal readers’ poll” • Most trusted public personality –