Renowned prospector Don McKinnon dies.

• Author: Cowan, Liz
• Position: MINING - Obituary

Legendary Timmins prospector Don McKinnon died Aug. 9 at the age of 83.

He is best known for his discovery, with prospecting partner John Larche, of the Hemlo gold deposits in northwestern Ontario near Marathon that made both millionaires.

McKinnon was also said to have made $900,000 in the 1960s with the Kidd Creek staking rush near Timmins.

The former high school dropout remained active in mineral exploration, and recently stepped down as chairman of Canadian Orebodies Inc., to retire and focus on his health, according to a company press release.

In 1983, he was named prospector of the year and he received the Order of Canada in 1996. He was also the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal this year.

As Timmins celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, he was included in a centennial mural that honoured the 100 Faces of Timmins of those who contributed to the city's development.

Dean Rogers, president of the Porcupine Prospectors and Developers Association, said McKinnon lived a full life.

"He was a champion of the North and always spoke his mind," he said. "He was very respected in the industry and was certainly a self-made man."

McKinnon was born in Cochrane in 1929. According to a 2006 Northern Ontario Business article, he and good friend Tim Horton spent their early years as rink rats who played hockey every chance...