From YMCA director to Olympic coach: The life of Archie McKinnon
Archie McKinnon, photo sourced from BC Sports Hall of Fame (bcsportshall.com).
McKinnon, a name that brings dread to many this time of year. The stress of exams, the claustrophobic nature of the gymnasium when over 100 desks are lined up next to each other — these are the feelings that the name McKinnon brings to many UVic students. Yet, the brass plaque near the front entrance of this building contrasts these feelings, merrilly stating that McKinnon had a unique contribution to Victoria through his dedication to athletics. So who actually was McKinnon?
Archibald McNaughton McKinnon, better known as Archie McKinnon, was born in Scotland in 1896. He came to Victoria in 1913 and worked as an office clerk for a building supplies importation company following the conclusion of the First World War. This job didn’t last long however, and he soon became the physical education director for Victoria’s YMCA.
He would go on to hold several concurrent jobs at the YMCA during his tenure until retiring in 1961, recording many amazing achievements along the way. He was Canada’s unofficial diving coach at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, Canada’s track and field coach at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, and Canada’s official swim and diving coach at the 1948 Olympics in London and the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.
Additionally, during his tenure at the YMCA, he had the amazing feat of having at least one of the athletes he coached compete at every Olympic and Commonwealth games from 1925–1960, and broke 51 national records during this time span. Perhaps his most amazing feat, however, is that it is estimated that he helped over 60 000 Victoria residents learn how to swim.
McKinnon was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1966 and the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. With these achievements in mind, it is perhaps no surprise that the discussions on who to name UVic’s new gymnasium after were short.
Construction of the building began in 1973 at a cost of $2.5 million (the equivalent of over $17 million today) and it officially opened in 1975. At this point, McKinnon was retired and 78 years old, but he came to cut the ceremonial ribbon at the building’s opening. He choked up during his remarks and was unable to finish his speech due to the emotions that ran through him.
Nine years later, on Christmas Day 1984, Archibald McNaughton McKinnon died from pneumonia at the age of 88.
On an additional note about the history of the building itself, it was home to UVic Vikes basketball until CARSA opened in 2015, during which time the mens’ and womens’ teams won 17 national championships. The final game at the McKinnon Building took place on Feb. 27, 2015 when the UVic mens’ basketball team beat the University of Alberta 81–67, ensuring McKinnon’s legacy was memorialized.
