Warren recalls that school for him actually began in the former combined Elementary/high School on Green Street where he attended Miss Labroques's kindergarten classes. What Warren recalls most vividly about kindergarten were the very long daily walks between Irvine and Mercille Ave.'s., and also the occasions when the entire class was handed musical instruments to blow, shake and bang, and wondering what would happen first – become a disciplined musical unit or drive Miss Labroque from the classroom.

Grades 1 through 4 were at Victoria Park under the tutelage of Mrs. Brenda Anyon and Miss Turpin. He remembers grade 3 mostly for winning a Gold Star for 'neat hand-writing', and being the first person in that class to be allowed to use ink (straight pens and inkwells were the norm). You had to be really neat to qualify. Warren notes, “that distinguishing characteristic disappeared quite soon.”

Then back to the long walks to 81 Green Street for grades 5 thru 8. Warren always envied his classmates from Notre Dame and Mercille who didn't have to leave home more than 5 minutes ahead of the 'first bell'. Warren comments, “at least I was now old enough to be able to take the shortcut over the CNR train tracks next to the Waterman's Pen factory.”

All those years of walking must have had some positive effect. Seems Miss Powell, the gym teacher, told Mr. Hume that Warren was quite fast on his feet and ought to join in the 'after school' practices Mr. Hume enjoyed setting up outside, in back of the school gym. In 1953 Ian Hume took as many students as he could fit into his new Chevrolet to a National track meet in Winnipeg and Warren, only age 13 was among them. During the next few years, sticking at it and with Ian Hume always there lending support and encouragement Warren won Canadian Track & Field Championship awards in Midget, Junior and Senior age levels.

Following high school graduation Warren attended Sir George Williams College for one year, then transferred into the School of Business at University of Dubuque in Iowa where he competed on the Varsity track team until graduation in 1962.

From 1962-65 Warren worked with the Montreal accounting firm Riddell, Stead, Graham & Hutchison, C.A.'s, then in 1965 joined one of the firm's clients, Gourock-Bridport-Gundry (G.B.G.) and became Company Secretary-Treasurer. In 1970 he became Company President.G.B.G. was the Canadian subsidiary of a 400 year-old Scottish canvas, cordage and Commercial Fishing company with branches in Montreal and throughout the Maritime Provinces.

Warren recalls his first challenge, initiated by the Parent Company, which was to open new markets for Parent Company products. “We already had the lion's share of business in the Commercial Fishing industry, a dubious distinction at best, as fishermen wouldn't pay their bills if they didn't catch enough fish. They'd just say “ it was the fault of the equipment and we'd have to wait until next year to get paid”. With credit terms like that, no wonder we were the biggest in the business.

Meeting the objective set by the Home Office, with Warren's interest in sport combined with G.B.G.'s involvement in the rope and netting business the company headed off into developing sports netting products, and within four short years dominated the Tennis markets of North America, forcing netting manufacturers worldwide to change their production materials and methods. In 1976 G.B.G. was named “Official Supplier” for all sports nets and netting used in the Montreal Olympic Games.

Following several business shakeups abroad, in 1979 Warren left G.B.G. and formed International Cordage Systems Ltd. (ICS), a company specializing in 'hi-tech' cordage products as well as sporting goods bearing the brand name “Court-1”. Canada's Ministry of National Defense became ICS's main purchaser of cordage products; supplying many nautical miles of 6” diameter Navy Vessel hawsers, as well as many thousand miles of parachute suspension or shroud lines. “ The parachute cord business was great for us! After only three practice jumps all the shroud lines had to be cut out and replaced, year after year. “

ICS's mainline business however was the Court-1 range of sporting goods products, principally tennis court and ice-hockey arena accessories, including the newly designed ice-hockey goal frames and goal nets which the NHL demanded after a number of very serious player injuries. During the 1980's and 1990's ICS remained at the forefront of product development for these two major sports and enjoyed worldwide distribution.

In 1984 ICS joined the United States Tennis Court & Track Builder's Association (USTC&TBA), an International organisation for builders, designers and suppliers of materials for tennis courts, running tracks, synthetic turf fields, indoor and outdoor synthetic sports surfaces. After having served the USTC&TBA as Finance Committee Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer, in 1989 Warren was elected President of the Manufacturer's Division, a position held for two years.

Warren Mackenzie former President of the Manufacturers' Division of the United States Tennis Court & Track Builders Association with Founding Board Members during 25th. Silver Anniversary Celebrations - St. Louis, MO. 1989.

In 1992 Tennis Industry Magazine named Warren, along with Billie-jean King, Bjorn Borg, Chris Evert, Eve Kraft, Ivan Lendl, Jack Kramer, John Newcomb, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova and others – 'persons, who during the past 20 years were most influential in the improvement and popularisation of the sport.'

Warren first met his wife Patti (Buck) C-'60, on a blind date in the summer of 1960. They were married in 1963 and before Expo '67 was over had produced three more Chambly County High alumni – Geoffrey (C-'81), Sally (C-'82) and Andrea (C-'84). They are grandparents of six year old twins. Warren and Pat (BSW, MSW - McGill) both retired in 1997 and moved to London, Ontario in 1998.

Warren has a passionate regard for his old high school and classmates. He has been active for the last 2 years, on a daily basis, in the promotion of Reunion 2005 and now the Alumni Association. He is an "away" member of the Board of Directors and serves as Ontario representative.