Diamond Jubilee Medal Nominations Open
TORONTO – Today, Diamond Jubilee medal nominations opened to recognize the hard work of dedicated Canadians who have been difference–makers in the sport community. The Canadian Olympic Committee has been invited by His Excellency the Right and Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Patron of the Canadian Olympic Committee, to participate in the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal program to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 60th anniversary of her accession to the Throne.
The Canadian Olympic Committee has been allocated Diamond Jubilee Medals and will partner with the Government of Canada in nominating eligible individuals. The public will also get an opportunity to nominate individuals and volunteers who have made a difference in their sports community by sending an email to: jubileemedal-ERII-medaillejubile@olympic.ca.
All nominations will be evaluated by a selection committee, chaired by International Olympic Committee member Richard Pound, and including three-time Olympic medallist Catriona Le May Doan and Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut.
“Whether it’s down the road at the local arena or across the ocean at the Olympic Games, volunteers are the lifeblood of the sport system,” Pound said. “Their contributions are integral to the development of an athlete, a team, a league or a sport.”
“I can think of so many people who contributed to my own competitive career,” Le May Doan said. “This is a great initiative to recognize those who dedicate their time and their efforts for the betterment of individual athletes and to the wider Sport community across Canada.”
“There are countless unsung volunteers who have made a difference in an athlete’s journey from playground to the podium and whose contributions strengthen the Canadian sport system,” said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “We are proud to be working with His Excellency David Johnston and the Government of Canada in selecting these deserving Canadians for the Diamond Jubilee Award.”
The Diamond Jubilee medals provide a unique opportunity to honour exceptional Canadians for their contributions to their fellow citizens, communities and country. During the year of celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians from across the country and various walks of life will be recognized.
“Without these volunteers, coaches and support staff, the dreams of many of our Olympians would not be possible today,” said Canadian Olympic Committee CEO and Secretary General Christopher Overholt. “We are privileged to be able to salute these hometown heroes and formally recognize that, through their leadership, they are strengthening Canada.”
Eligibility criteria:
· Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, but need not necessarily reside in Canada;
· Must have made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada, or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada; and
· Must have been alive on February 6, 2012, the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the Throne. The medal can be awarded posthumously, as long as the recipient was alive on that date.
The deadline is November 1, 2012. Nominations should include the name of the nominee, the sport(s) or event(s) they have affected through their volunteerism, and a short 200-word description of the difference they have made to their sport community.
