William Arthur "Bill" Reddin was born in Charlottetown on January 17th, 1910. He grew up on Prince Edward Island during the Great Depression where he worked at his fathers store "L.J. Reddin's Drygoods". He attended Queens Square School before graduating on to St. Dunstan's University where he studied to become a teacher. During his studies he taught in a two room school house in Southport for practice.
He graduated from St. Dunstan's with a teaching degree in 1932 and had aspirations to attend Law School at Dalhousie, but a teaching job offer from Prince of Wales College encouraged him to remain home. He taught Botany there from 1933-1942 and was given the nickname "Botany Bill". During his tenure at Prince of Wales College, William Reddin completed an incredible journey around Prince Edward Island in a canoe. He completed the estimated one thousand mile journey between the summers of 1934 and 1935. Over 30 years later he would write the book "Canoe and I" chronicling his journey.
After his time teaching at Prince of Wales College William Reddin went to Dalhousie in 1942 and earned his Law Degree and a Bachelor of Science in 1945. He practiced Law from 1946-1954 in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and then returned to education, serving as a principal in Sept-Iles, Quebec and a teacher in New Brunswick between the years of 1954-1957. Reflecting his varied lifestyle he then returned back to practice Law in Alberton, Charlottetown, and Montague between 1958 and 1975 before retiring. He spent his retired years in Keppoch where he enjoyed nature, poetry, travel, and music.
In addition to his teaching and Law career William Reddin was engaged in a number of hobbies. He was involved in numerous farming ventures, including raising sheep and even foxes in the 1920s and 1930s. He sold homegrown flowers and Charlottetown, and also worked as a Varsity Boxing Coach. In addition he was also a member of the Law Society of P.E.I., the Natural History Society, the Royal Canadian Legion, the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, the P.E.I. Rose Society, the P.E.I. Right to Life Association, the Friends of Confederation Centre, and the Canadian Nature Foundation.
William Reddin died at the age of 86 on July 21st, 1996 in Tea Hill. He was the husband of Estelle (Haines) Reddin (who received the Vanier Institute's honourary membership award for her contribution to the well being of Canadian Families) from 1948 until his death, and he was the father of eight children. His remains were donated to the Dalhousie School of Anatomy at his request.