Investing in the Future of Canadian Rugby
Article-June 25, 2008
The Rugby Canada Foundation and BC Rugby are pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the Gerald McGavin Coaching Award, an award created last year at the Rugby Canada Foundation. Last year’s winner Tom Larisch, is taking part in special coaching course as well as a high performance coaches workshop in Wellington, New Zealand from June 28th until July 6th. Tom will be attending, and working with, the All Blacks coaching staff at the All Black training sessions on a daily basis and will also be involved in a practical session with two All Black coaches. Tom’s trip will wrap-up on Saturday July 5th while attending the All Blacks vs. South Africa match at Westpac Stadium. This experience is one which will be a once in lifetime opportunity for Tom. Gerald was a very talented rugby player and he acknowledges that many of his coaches were a very positive influence on him as he grew up. He started playing rugby at Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island and later went on to represent the Province of British Columbia against teams like: the Barbarians, Australia, Eastern Canada, the British Lions, and New Zealand Universities. He would also earn a selection to represent Canada on a tour of Britain. Unfortunately, Gerald would have to decline the selection due to the time commitment of being away with the team for three straight months. Outside of rugby, Gerald has been a leader in the business, professional and cultural community of Vancouver and the Province of B.C. for almost 5 decades, serving as a Director of a number of for profit and not for profit organizations. Gerald and Sheahan McGavin have been very generous philanthropists, supporting the arts as well as many other cultural and health related campaigns. Gerald was awarded an F.C.A. in 1990 in recognition of the service and honour he brought to the accounting profession. In October of 1999, Gerald was recognized for his outstanding commitment to his community and was appointed to become a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2006, Gerald was appointed to the Order of B.C., which is the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its citizens. Gerald’s involvement with the establishment of endowment funds for a wide variety of organizations across the Province stimulated the creation something unique that would provide recognition of Gerald’s service to so many areas of his life. Due to his love for the sport of rugby, the Gerald McGavin Coaching Award has been created to recognize those rugby coaches who go above and beyond by reaching out to players not only as athletes but also as a positive influence on their lives outside of rugby. Rugby coaches can play a significant role in shaping the minds of young athletes both on and off the field, and the recipients of these awards will have done just that.
Investing in the Future of Canadian Rugby
Article-Page 2
Nominations are now being accepted for this award and the close date for nominations is July 25, 2008. To request a nomination package, to find out more information about the award, or to make a contribution towards this fund, please contact us at adabrams@rugbycanadafoundation.ca or visit the Rugby Canada Foundation website http://www.rugbycanadafoundation.ca/news.asp. There will be no applications for this award. Successful recipients of the Gerald McGavin Coaching Award will be nominated by someone in the rugby community.