Don McKinnon
John Donald Joseph "Don" McKinnon (1940 or 1941 - 19 November 1989) was a teacher with Amelia Jackson for 35 years from when he was about 13 in about 1954 until his death from a "very bad" car accident in 1989. In 1964 with Amelia Jackson, Don McKinnon founded the "Northwestern Ontario Ballet Guild" and taught at the Dance Centre of Northwestern Ontario.
Don lived in Atikokan and made the long drive in to Thunder Bay on a regular basis. This policy of making long winter drives on icy roads for his entire adult life eventually cost him his life.
Career
After Maurice Jackson's death in 1957, Amelia Jackson began to rely heavily on Don, a promising young dancer from Atikokan. Don became a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)-certified ballet teacher and her second-in-command at the studio. Together they taught Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and other styles, bringing famous dancers such as Al Gilbert of Hollywood, California to administer exams at the end of each semester. [5,11]
Don was a protégé Jazz Teacher of Matt Mattox (Matt was in the movie "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers", the axe dance), and examined the "Cozzubbo Jazz Exams" for three years and also did "Mock Ballet RAD Exams" for the Academy. [14]
Don was apparently a disciple of tap dancer Al Gilbert, who administered the exams for the DCNO at the end of many semesters from at least the 1970s through the studio's final exams in April 2000. [3]
Another devoted student was Leslie Almgren (nee Niro), who joined Don on Saturdays to practice at Vickers Heights Community Centre in the 1950s. Barbara Towell's mother accompanied them on the piano. The most successful student from this era was Rosalie Brake (Dicks), who danced with the National Ballet of Canada. [4,5]
Don also taught at the Vickers Heights community centre and held workshops in the summer at Selkirk High School (currently St. Patrick's). [4]
A teacher by profession, Don had been an employee of the Lakehead District Separate School Board for 27 years at the time of his death. [11]
By 1978 the school had a faculty of eight, with Don listed as CDTA Assistant Director alongside Amelia Jackson as CDTA Director: [8]
- Amelia Jackson CDTA Director
- Don McKinnon CDTA Assistant Director
- Leslie Almgren
- Marg Hadland
- Mary Evans CDTA
- Barbara Ann Buie
- Ilga Suseklis
- Debra Lee Bechta
On 27 September 1987, Amelia and Don advertised best wishes to their dance teacher friend Allan Cozzubbo in the Calgary Herald for the 25th anniversary of his studio (Sep 1963 - June 1997). [CJ87]
Death
On 19 November 1989, Don was killed in a vehicle accident at the age of 48.
Amelia was a strict teacher who demanded the best from all her students. She worked hard and expected the best from everyone in her studio. Don McKinnon was her right hand and he began taking the work load. Tragically one Sunday morning November 18 1989 Don was killed in a vehicle accident at the age of 48. My daughters Pamela and Barbara were waiting for him to come to town for a workshop. Amelia was lost without him. Don slid out of control on an icy stretch. Don was a single man.
— Patricia Ellen Towell, Private Conversation, September 2023 [4]
"Mrs. J was still teaching when Don passed away. It was so so tough on her. She just soldiered on and had been teaching all along," recalled Barbara Towell. "Don was like a son to Mrs. Jackson; in my eyes he was." [4]
Don's leisure time was spent at the family camp at Sturgeon Bay. He was a longtime member of St. Agnes' Church and also St. Theresa's at Kakabeka.
Legacy
Thunder Bay's Legendary Ballerina, Amelia Jackson, owned and operated a very strict yet rewarding dance studio here in Thunder Bay, the Northwestern Dance Center. Along with Amelia, were dance Pros Don McKinnon, Lesley Almgren and Leslie Hunt who taught many dancers over the years. Year end exams were conducted by Al Gilbert of Hollywood. Here are some programs with the list of the Guild Members. Lots of names to tag or share with their families.
— Karen Peltonen, Thunder Bay Memories Facebook group, 19 January 2019 [3]
Linda Kearns, who began dance at age 7 with Mrs. Jackson and is now at Brandon School of Dance, states that "it was Amelia who instilled in her not only the love of dance, but the discipline and work ethic needed not only in the world of dance but in life in general. Amelia encouraged [a] love of teaching, performing, and choreographing," and it was through Amelia and Don McKinnon that she began a lifetime friendship with Al Gilbert "the Pied Piper of Dance." [13]
Family
Don's family was one of 4 brothers including himself. It's likely his brothers also had an unusual, indulgent three given names, which is seen in he and his father's names:
- Father Robert John Bernard "Bob" McKinnon ~1911 - 1 July 1980
- Mother Marguerite Evelyn McKinnon (nee ??) died 7 May 1993
- Brother Robert "Bob" McKinnon (died between 1989 and 2002) (six children with Patricia "Pat" Glover (1931 -2002))
- Brother William "Bill" McKinnon (died between 1989 and 2002)
- Brother John "Jack" McKinnon (alive in 2002) (married to Jane)
- John Donald Joseph "Don" McKinnon (1940 or 1941 - 19 November 1989)
The only possibly living member of the family, Jack McKinnon, is possibly alive as of September 2024 volunteers at the food bank in Thunder Bay, although the article claims that his wife's name was Pat, and she died in 2021, so perhaps Pat was a second wife, or else perhaps he's an unrelated McKinnon, not the brother of Don. [1]
Obituary
McKINNON — Mr. John Donald Joseph "Don" McKinnon, age 48 years, of R.R. #5 Arthur Street, died November 19, 1989.
Born and raised in the city, Don was very active in the community throughout his life, and for the past 35 years, had taught dance in the district. All of those years were spend [sic] teaching with Amelia Jackson, and together they founded the Northwest Ontario Ballet Guild Dance Center [possible conflation of the Guild and Center into one name]. Don's whole life had been devoted to the art of dance and to [sic] anyone that was associated with him knew of his dedication. A teacher by profession he had been an employee of the Lakehead District Separate School Board for the past 27 years.
Don's leisure time was spent at the family camp at Sturgeon Bay. He was a longtime member of St. Agnes' Church and also St. Theresa's at Kakabeka.
He is survived by his mother Marguerite; brothers Bob, Bill and John "Jack" and his wife Jane all of Thunder Bay; sister-in-law Pat [~1931 - 2002]; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive. He was predeceased by his father Bob.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday evening at 7:00 P.M. when friends and family will gather for Funeral Mass to be celebrated by Rev. Ken Pottie. Services will be complete [sic] in the Church with a private family interment to follow on Thursday in the family plot in St. Patrick's Cemetery. Removal will be made from the Blake Funeral Chapel prior to Mass time Wednesday. Prayers will be offered on Tuesday evening at 7:00 P.M. in the Blake Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established to carry on Don's memory at the Northwest Dance Center [sic], and memorial cards may be obtained at the Blake Funeral Chapel.
— Obituary of Don McKinnon, Chronicle-Journal, 21 November 1989, page 22 [11]
"Mr. McKinnon, an RAD Ballet Teacher and protege Jazz Teacher of Matt Mattox ( Matt was in the movie"Seven Brides For Seven Brothers"..the axe Dance) Don examined the "Cozzubbo Jazz Exams" for three years and also did "Mock Ballet RAD Exams" for the Academy. Mr McKinnon passed in 1995 [actually it was 1989] due to a very bad car accident. He is remembered fondly by his family & Allan Jerry Cozzubbo, Al Gilbert, Kathy Wood"
— Jerry Cozzubbo, personal website, accessed 2020 [2] [14]
Sources
[1] https://curriepedia.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Amelia_Jackson
[2] https://curriepedia.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Dance_Centre_of_Northwestern_Ontario
[3] Karen Peltonen (nee Campbell), Thunder Bay Memories Facebook group, 19 January 2019.
[4] Barbara Towell; Patricia Ellen Towell, Private Conversation, September 2023.
[5] Manuela Michelizzi
[6] Chronicle-Journal, 23 June 1988. "Senior Salute: Amelia Jackson (nee Redden)"
[7] The Jacksons of Fort William, by Harvey L. Smyth. In the Brodie Special Collections.
[8] 11 June 1976; Selkirk Auditorium, Galaxy of Dance for '76, dance program (also listed in 1978 programme)
[9] Times-News Chronicle, 16 August 1945. "Gay Throngs Greet Train with Wounded".
[10] https://web.archive.org/web/20221007122841/https://www.fortwilliamgirlsmilitaryband.ca/
[11] Chronicle-Journal, 21 November 1989. Obituary, Don McKinnon. Page 22.
[12] Fort Frances News, 16 April 2000.
[13] https://brandonschoolofdance.ca/faculty/
[14] Jerry Cozzubbo, personal website. http://www.allancozzubboacademyofdancing.com/in-mmory-of.php
[CJ87] Calgary Herald, 27 September 1987, page 20.