Obituary of Frank MacKinnon

Frank MacKinnon of Calgary, in his eighty-eighth year, passed away at the Mayfair Care Centre on Sunday, July 16, 2006 following a long period of decline. Frank was born in Charlottetown, PEI and educated at Prince of Wales College, McGill University, and University of Toronto (Ph.D., 1950). After serving in the Department of Political Science at Carleton University, he became Principal of Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown at the age of thirty. He was the last principal of that institution, serving until 1968 when he joined the Political Science Department at the University of Calgary. He retired in 1984 and lived in Calgary until his death. Frank was devoted to the development of arts and culture in Canada. He was a founding member of the Canada Council from its inception in 1957 to 1964. He was the visionary and the builder of Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown, and it was his proudest achievement. Frank was an accomplished writer and a devoted public servant. His first book, The Government of Prince Edward Island won the Governor-General’s Award for academic non-fiction in 1952 and he went on to write several more volumes, most notably The Politics of Education (1960), Postures and Politics (1973), and The Crown in Canada (1978). His public service included, in addition to membership on the Canada Council, service on many boards, commissions, and delegations in Canada and abroad. He was the recipient of the first Islander of the Year Award in 1961 and he chaired Prince Edward Island’s Centennial Commission in 1964. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1969. Frank was the recipient of honorary LLB degrees from the University of Nova Brunswick and Dalhousie University. Frank will always be remembered and lovingly cherished for his love of family, country and great occasions. He was a true “bon vivant”. Much loved father of Philip (Mary) of Cairo, Egypt, David (Betsy) of Toronto, ON, Peter (Janice) of Saskatoon, SK, and Pamela Prior (Roger) of Calgary. Frank is also survived by his much cherished grandchildren, Andrew, Stephen (Tricia), Meghan Prior, Heather (Christian Flores), Jamie (Pilar Fuertes), Katy, Darcy, Alan (Anoma), and William MacKinnon. He was predeceased in September 2003 by Daphne MacKinnon his beloved wife of sixty years. At Frank’s request there will be no funeral service. A private family remembrance will be held, and a further graveside remembrance will take place when the cremated remains of Frank and Daphne are returned to the soil of Prince Edward Island. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Confederation Center for the Arts in Charlottetown, 145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 1J1 Telephone: (902) 629-1159 or the Calgary Opera Association (601 – 237 8th Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2G 0K8 Telephone: (403) 262-7286). The family would like to thank all the wonderful staff at the Renoir Retirement Residence, Unit 59 of the Rockyview Hospital and Mayfair Centre for all their care and compassion. In living memory of Frank MacKinnon, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.