W.G. (Billy) McGimsie was born in Woodsville, Ontario in 1880 and moved to Kenora with his family when he was one year old. Billy learned and developed his hockey skills as he made his way up through the minor ranks in the school, mercantile and church leagues in Kenora. Once advancing to the senior team, the Kenora Thistles, he was to stay with them as their centre-ice performer for 10 years.

While with the Thistles, McGimsie played in a total of 4 Stanley Cup finals, and although unsuccessful in his first two bids for the title in 1903 and 1905, the Thistles won the Cup in January of 1907 with McGimsie at centre ice. McGimsie carried on with the Thistles until a dislocated shoulder he received in an exhibition game against Ottawa forced him to retire.

It was McGimsie's leadership and talent as the centre for the Thistles which contributed to his team's outstanding accomplishments in the game of hockey and the early history of the Stanley Cup. McGimsie was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 26, 1987