Burns McPherson
As a boy growing up on a farm in Kenyon Township Burns played the regular boy/girl games of minor soccer and hockey – two of Glengarry’s favorite pastimes. He was born February 23, 1948 the son of Ranald and Edna McPherson.
Burns attended Glengarry District High School in 1962, graduating in 1966. Here he participated in soccer, basketball, football and track and field events. He was named High School Athlete of the Year in 1964-65 and again in 1965-66.
In addition to high school athletics, Burns also played on the Greenfield Senior Soccer team from 1963-68 and on a Glengarry Minor Lacrosse team from 1963-66. He also played for the Junior Cornwall Mustangs Football team.
The autumn of 1966 saw Burns enrolled at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He became a member of the St. Francis Xavier X-men football team and doubled as the team’s punter and kicker along with playing a line-backer position. This team had a successful season and became a participant in the Vanier Cup College Bowl Game where they emerged the winners thus taking the College Bowl trophy back to Antigonish.
Back home in Glengarry, Burns was named the winner of the Jim McCaffery Trophy as Glengarry’s top athlete in 1967.
During Burns’ second year on the St. Francis Xavier team, they became the Atlantic Conference Champions. He was named the St. F.X. defensive MVP and also won the CIAU as an all Canadian player.
The next year was repeat performance for Burns as again he was the St. F.X. MVP as well as the CIAU all Canadian award winner. As a two-way standout with the St. Francis Xavier X-men, he was chosen as the Most Valuable Player in the Bluenose Football Conference by a poll of the coaches and players representing all seven league members. This MVP selection carried with it the Bluenose Conference nomination for the Hector Creighton Award which was given annually to the outstanding college football player in Canada; unfortunately he missed out on the vote.
Following is a 1969 quotation from an Antigonish paper “Certainly the versatility of the Alexandria, Ontario native puts him right in the class of outstanding performers in the nation. McPherson led the Bluenose Conference in both scoring and punting, was ranked among the league’ top receivers, and was one of the mainstays of the rugged St. F.X. defensive unit. A shortage of depth at the half back post forced Don Loney to move McPherson into a running back sport on several occasions as well. The 5’11, 190 pound senior has been a starter since his arrival at St. F.X. in 1966, and culminated an outstanding four-year career with a great two-way performance this season.
A better-than-average student, McPherson is also a member of the St. F.X. campus police force, and serves as a residence prefect in the discipline system. Well regarded off the field as he is on, he is referred to by head coach Don Loney as ‘One of the best natural football players we’ve ever had here.'”
In 1970 Burns was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes under Red O. Quinn and played several exhibition games before being traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He decided to not go to Winnipeg, instead enrolling at Queen’s University in Kingston where he played for the Queen’s Golden Gaels while pursuing his Bachelor of Education degree.
For a second time Burns received the Jim McCaffery Trophy in 1970.
He returned to the East Coast after graduating from Queen’s, later marrying in 1973 and settled in Bedford, Nova Scotia. A parent of six children, Burns is now the Atlantic Regional Manager for the Allegiance Health Care Company. He has also coached minor sports. One son Michael, is a member of St. Mary’s University football team, 2001 Vanier Cup winners. Daughter Emily, is a member of the 2002 Canada Summer Games basketball team.
In 1996, the St. F.X. X-men team of 1966 was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
