Educator.
Born at Winnipeg on 24 January 1926, son of Donald Ernest McKinnon and Mary Vinian Taylor, he was educated at Isaac Brock School and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate. He was working at the Searle Grain Company when he was drafted into the Canadian Navy during the Second World War, serving from 1944 to 1945. On his return from military service, he attended the University of Manitoba where he obtained a BEd degree, and later an MEd degree.
He began a teaching career with the Winnipeg School Division, teaching at Wellington School (1951-1955), Queenston School (1955-1957), Andrew Mynarski School (1957-1958), and Luxton School (1958-1960) before being appointed a Vice-Principal in the St. James School Division, serving at Linwood School (1960-c1961) and Britannia School (c1963-1964). He was Principal at Woodhaven School (1964-1966), Birchwood School (1964-1966), Britannia School (?-?), Assiniboine School (1967-1969), Sansome School (1969-1980), Lincoln School (1980-1981), and Linwood School (1981-1986). From 1966 to 1967, he was President of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. He was the first Manitoban to be appointed Paramount Chief of a Liberian tribe (1963).
He died at Winnipeg on 13 January 2013.
“The big chief comes home,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 August 1963, page 3.
“Donald T. McKinnon,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 April 1966, page 11.
Henderson’s Winnipeg Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 19 January 2013, page B12.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 11 October 2024
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