Builders
McKay, John
(1927 – 1994)
SPORT | Figure Skating
POSITION | Executive Member, Administrator, Official
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 2003
John was born in 1927 in British Columbia, moved to London, Ontario as a child, began figure skating at age 8, and later became active in the London Figure Skating Club. When he moved to Chatham, he became a director of the Chatham Club and remained one for over 30 years. From here he became a director at the Sectional level, then the National level, and ultimately from 1971-73 was President of the Canadian Figure Skating Association (CFSA). During his long tenure as Finance Chairman for CFSA, he was responsible for establishing and maintaining a financially stable organization that has been able to financially assist in the development of skaters to successfully compete at National and World competitions. In the 1960’s when the CFSA lacked money and therefore power, he proposed and implemented a national registration fee of $1.00 per skater in Canada, producing for the CFSA over $100,000 in its initial year. This was followed up with one successful money-making endeavour after another and ultimately with the acquisition of corporate sponsors to support Canada’s elite competitors as well as those aspiring to achieve. He was also a judge, referee, and team leader representing Canada at major events throughout the world.
John was born in 1927 in British Columbia, moved to London, Ontario as a child, began figure skating at age 8, and later became active in the London Figure Skating Club. When he moved to Chatham, he became a director of the Chatham Club and remained one for over 30 years. From here he became a director at the Sectional level, then the National level, and ultimately from 1971-73 was President of the Canadian Figure Skating Association (CFSA). During his long tenure as Finance Chairman for CFSA, he was responsible for establishing and maintaining a financially stable organization that has been able to financially assist in the development of skaters to successfully compete at National and World competitions. In the 1960’s when the CFSA lacked money and therefore power, he proposed and implemented a national registration fee of $1.00 per skater in Canada, producing for the CFSA over $100,000 in its initial year. This was followed up with one successful money-making endeavour after another and ultimately with the acquisition of corporate sponsors to support Canada’s elite competitors as well as those aspiring to achieve. He was also a judge, referee, and team leader representing Canada at major events throughout the world.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Career
1972 – Judge at Skate Russia in Moscow
As President of CFSA represented Canada at Olympics in Sapporo, Japan and at Worlds in Calgary, AL
1974 – Judge at Canadians in Moncton, NB
1976 – Assistant referee at Canadians in Ilderton, ON
Advance organizer at Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria
1977 – Team leader at Worlds in Tokyo, Japan
1979 – Assistant referee at Canadians in Thunder Bay, ON
Judge at Prague Skate in Prague, Czechoslovakia
1983 – Judge at Prague Skate in Prague, Czechoslovakia
1984 – Judge at Canadians in Regina, SK
team leader at Worlds in Ottawa, ON
1985 – Judge at Canadians in Moncton, NB
1987 – Team leader at Worlds in Cincinnati, OH
Assistant technical representative and referee at Canadians in Ottawa, ON
1988 – Team leader at Olympics in Calgary, AL
Referee at Canadians in Victoria, BC
1990 – Judge at Canadians in Moncton, NB?
Awards & Recognitions
1970 – Recognized by Chatham Memorial Community Centre Commission for Outstanding Service
1973 – Received British Columbia Festival of Winter Sports Appreciation Award
1976 – Received Province of Ontario Special Achievement Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Field of Fitness and Amateur Sport
1979 – Was given Canada Winter Games (Brandon, Manitoba) Appreciation Award
1979 – Elected as Honourary Member of Canadian Figure Skating Association
1987 – Received Province of Ontario International Achievement Award in Recognition of Distinguished Performance in the Field of Amateur Sport
1989 & 1990 – Received Billie Mitchell Award from Canadian Figure Skating Association for “valuable contribution to skating”
1993 – Was given Government of Canada Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation in recognition of “significant contribution to compatriots, to community, and to Canada”
1997 – Was inducted into Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame
In addition, John was an active member of the Chatham Water Commission from 1970 until his death in 1994 at the age of 67.