William Slater

William George McKenzie Slater (18 April 1940 – 2 February 2019) was a Canadian swimmer who competed in his youth for Vancouver's Canadian Dolphins and represented Canada in two freestyle events at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. During his noteworthy swimming career, he established just under 20 Canadian records spanning various distances. After graduating the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics in 1962, he worked as an Investment Manager.

1956 Melbourne Olympics Slater competed in two events at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He finished 12th overall in the 400-meter freestyle, placing third in the 4th preliminary heat with a time of 4:40.4. He placed 5th in the finals of the 1500 meter freestyle with a time of 18:38.1, around 30 second out of medal contention in the long event. Murray Rose of Australia placed first with a time of 17:58.9, with Japan and the U.S. respectively taking the silver and bronze medals. After college graduation, he swam professionally for a brief interlude after 1962.

He married his wife Carol around 1969, and the couple had four children.

Slater worked in the business field as an investment counselor and served for a period with Vancouver's Phillips, Hager and North Investment Services.

Slater died February 2, 2019, at Vancouver's North Shore Hospice.

Honors After receiving the bronze medal in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, he was the recipient of the Sir Edward Beatty Trophy by the Canadian Amateur Swimming Association as the top Canadian male swimmer.