Very few athletes ever achieve elite levels in four different sports. William Cecil “Billy” Christmas was one of the few who did. At the turn of the century, this young teenager, the third of eight boys in his family, demonstrated the telltale signs of incredible athletic talent that included rugby, hockey, lacrosse, and boxing.  

In his teens, Billy joined the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (M.A.A.A.) which supported his efforts. Billy played for the Montreal Hockey Club and the Montreal Lacrosse Club. On the off season, he played for the Britannia (Rugby) Club where he was considered the “the Prince of Halfbacks”.  In 1899 he entered an M.A.A.A. boxing competition, winning the lightweight title.

Billy had to overcome a number of tragedies later in his life including the death of his daughter, financial loss, and the loss of his beloved wife. The project that was closest to Billy’s heart was his belief in accessible healthcare for the poor and he worked diligently to recruit similar thinkers within the health care system and in the general public before his death at age 61.