2018

Richardson Ross

June 20, 2024 by

Received Ivan Velan Award in 2017, Racquetball Canada’s most prestigious honour, for his contributions to the sport on a local, provincial and national level.
In 1988 started setting up learn-to-play and competitive opportunities at Regina Court & Fitness Club for youths of all abilities, continuing those programs until 2016 . . . taught racquetball to thousands of high school students as part of their gym classes . . . Level III coach was on Canada’s staff for 2007, 2009 and 2010 world junior championships . . . continues as certified national team coach, coaching his daughter Christine, a former junior world champion who has been on the podium 15 times at Canadian championships.
Elected member of the Saskatchewan Racquetball Association board for 25 years, serving in numerous capacities before retiring as high performance director in 2014 . . . chaired several Racquetball Canada committees and served on other committees to acquire and distribute funding for local athletes and associations . . . organized provincial tournaments and volunteered for committees hosting national championships in Regina.

June 20, 2024 by

University of Regina President’s Award winner in 1985 for top graduating male athlete . . . finished college career as Cougars’ all-time scoring and rebounding leader, averaging 18.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in 79 games . . . four-time team MVP and three-time conference all-star . . . played high school basketball at Martin Collegiate until 1975, won Saskatchewan Winter Games gold medal in 1978, made under-21 provincial team for Canadian championships and won senior men’s city and provincial championships in 1979 with Regina Chokers.
Played professional basketball in Australia and returned home to win city and provincial senior men’s championships with Regina Shamrock Sports in 1986-88 . . . resumed pro career in Germany and Austria before rejoining Shamrock Sports for eight city championships between 1991-99 and another city championship with the Skizziks.
Spent one season coaching a professional women’s team in Austria . . . coached his daughters in community league and high school, later became assistant coach at Winston Knoll High School . . . officiated high school and community basketball in Regina, scorekeeper for Regina Men’s Basketball
League.

June 20, 2024 by

Qualified to represent Wascana Racing Canoe Club for Canadian championships from 2001 to 2010, except when national team conflicts kept her from competing in 2008 . . . through nine championships she won 39 medals, including 15 gold.
Represented Canada 15 times at world championships, Pan-Am Games and Pan-Am championships, winning 10 medals and advancing to 12 other finals . . . competed as junior member of national development team in 2002; attended international events after being named to under-23 development team and nearly qualified for 2008 Olympics . . . results at 2011 world championships earned her a spot on Canadian women’s kayak team; a strong performance in K1 200 metres at 2011 Pan-Am Games would have qualified her for 2012 Olympics but an injury prevented her from racing and convinced her to retire in 2014.
Showed loyalty to her local club by training extensively in Regina and racing regularly with promising Wascana athletes; volunteered as support staff for 2009 Canada Games and as a member of Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan’s board, helping with high-performance to grassroots to indigenous programs, before serving as executive director.

June 20, 2024 by

Inaugural coach of Regina Rebels when they joined the new Saskatchewan Midget Female AAA Hockey League in 2006-07; stepped aside as head coach to become assistant for three seasons, after winning league and regional championships in 2012-13, one of two times the team participated in Esso Cup . . . SMFAAAHL coach-of-year in 2008-09 . . . Rebels won prestigious Macs tournament in 2012.
Began coaching his daughters’ teams as an assistant in 1995 and progressed through novice, atom, pee wee, bantam and midget . . . advanced through National Coaches Certification Program and was appointed a Sask First zone coach to develop Saskatchewan’s under-18 teams for national championships and Canada Winter Games, ultimately helping to coach those squads.
Former hockey player and teacher whose experiences helped develop female hockey in Saskatchewan by emphasizing academics, life skills and physical fitness in addition to on-ice abilities . . . received Distinguished Humanitarian and Community Service Award in 2010 as part of the University of Regina’s Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards.

June 20, 2024 by

Represented Canada in men’s team pursuit at 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, respectively winning gold in Vancouver and placing fourth in Sochi.
Six-time participant in world all-around championships, highlighted by 2010 silver medal in 1,500 metres . . . four-time participant in world single distance championships, highlighted in 2011 by placing third in 1,500 and second in team pursuit . . . winner of various team pursuit medals in World Cup competitions plus a 2009 silver medal in 1,500.
Canadian junior champion in 2006 . . . national senior champion at 10,000 metres in 2008-09, 5,000 metres in 2009-11 and 2013, and 1,500 metres in 2010 . . . retired in 2014, began skating in 1993 . . . won five gold medals at 2002 Saskatchewan Winter Games . . . helped establish Lucas Makowsky Award at Wilfrid Walker School to perpetuate positive impacts Adopt An Athlete partnership had on the school and community.

June 20, 2024 by

SaskSport Volunteer of the Year in 2014 for her involvement as an administrator, official and scorekeeper. Synchro Canada Certificate of Merit winner in 2011 . . . Won Synchro Saskatchewan Volunteer Service Award in 2004, Volunteer of the Year in 2007, Volunteer Special Merit Service Award in 2009 and Volunteer Honour Service Award in 2010 . . . served on SaskSport’s board and funding committee.
Began synchro affiliation as a computer scorer, before becoming board member, vice-president of finance and administration, chief referee, website co-ordinator, competitions chair, scoring chair and vice-president of sport development, serving on committees overseeing grassroots, athletes with a disability, adult/masters, coaching, technical, LTAD (long-term athlete development), high performance and officials . . . also served with Regina Synchro in several roles, including president.
Works closely with meet managers, annually updates the Meet Management Guide and prepares information packages with the technical director, co-ordinates high-performance trials and processes registrations, draws, scoring sheets, results and summaries . . . updated rule book and numerous documents designed to help other volunteers . . . re-designed website and communicates with Synchro Canada regarding scoring system.