Three Canada Games, three medals.

Now billiards ace Bill Gibbons is aiming to make that four this August when he heads to the Canada 55+ Summer Games in St. John to compete in the 75+ eight-ball event.

Gibbons has won one gold and two bronze medals at three consecutive national 55+ games, 2012 (Sydney, NS), 2014 (Sherwood Park, AB) and 2016 (Brampton, ON).

"Hopefully I get another gold to balance it out," says Gibbons with a smirk. "We'll see what happens."

Gibbons is passionate about the sport, the players and the opportunities provided by participating in 55+ Games. While he has enjoyed all the games, competing in St. John will be special.

"My mother was born in the Maritimes in Bathhurst, not far from St. John. It's going to bring back some fond memories. It's going to be a chance to remember my parents, especially my mother."

There's also the chance to rekindle friendships made over the years from previous summer games and pool tournaments elsewhere, like Vegas.

"I'm looking forward to meeting some of the guys that I've played against in the past. They're a good group of guys."

Billiards has been a lifelong pursuit of Gibbons. Growing up in Montreal, he started in his teens and may have missed the odd class while he sharpened his skills.

Now 75, he remains an avid player and is a certified instructor through the Profesional Billiards Instructor Association.

He has been providing instruction to St. Timothy High School students during their visits the Seniors on the Bow Centre through a school program.

"They're all beginners and novice players so I give them pointers and show them some trick shots. They enjoy that."

Gibbons originally won the right to represent Alberta at the provincial 65+ final in Red Deer in October. He has since turned 75 and will be representing Alberta in the newly created 75+ category. That will be the third age bracket he has competed in at the 55+ games.

He considers billiards a sport for all ages and is senior friendly, and uses the example of how he continues to travel to the States to play with a friend who's 99 years old.

"In some ways, it's similar to golf; you have to keep your edge. If you don't practice regularly you lose it. But it's not that physical, it's more of a mental game, especially at my level."

He continues to lobby for an expanded games room for the seniors and the relocation of the Seniors on the Bow to a ground floor location in the downtown core. He would like to see three tables, two regulation size 4.5' x 9' tables and one snooker table.

Besides the Canada Games, Gibbons has also won several medals in provincial 55+ 8-ball competitions and last summer won a gold for 65+ horseshoes.