Biography

Getting to know Bill McKinnon

Who: A Charlottetown native who was inducted into the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame in 1971. The 69-year-old now lives in Stratford.

Did you know? McKinnon is the first Islander to win a medal at the Canada Games. The sprinter won gold in the 100 metres at the second Games held in 1969 in Halifax/Dartmouth, N.S. He also competed in hockey in 1967 in Quebec City with the Saint Dunstan’s Saints.

The 100-metre field: McKinnon was running against two sprinters each from British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec and one from Alberta. The official finish was Prince Edward Island, Alberta and British Columbia, respectively, in the medal positions.

McKinnon said: “The concept of a multi-sport (event), being part of Team P.E.I. and being able to go and cheer on friends in other sports really embosomed in me just how important an event like this was.”