HALIFAX – Roland Deveau of Bedford, N.S., was inducted as Golf Canada’s 113th president at the conclusion of the National Sport Federation’s Annual General Meeting this past weekend in Halifax.
Deveau succeeds 2015 president Paul McLean of King, Ont., in leading Golf Canada’s Board of Directors. Calgary’s Leslie Dunning becomes first vice-president while Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que., assumes the role of second vice-president.
“I’m humbled and privileged to assume the presidency of Golf Canada,” said Deveau shortly after his induction. “I’d like to thank and salute Mr. McLean as well as all our previous leaders who have worked tirelessly to grow the game and promote excellence in our sport with grace, dignity and commitment. Our organization has a tremendously rich history. I thank my fellow Board members for enabling me this opportunity to work with our members and industry stakeholders as we write our next chapter.
“We live in an astonishing country who loves golf. We are Canada’s most played sport with nearly 5.7 million Canadians teeing-it-up each year. But, we have and will always face challenges. It’s the responsibility of golf’s leaders to adapt to the modern reality that our society is changing. It’s time for all of us, as an industry, to be positive about golf and work collaboratively. We must target juniors, women and minority groups who haven’t traditionally been involved with our sport. That is how we will continue to be Canada’s most popular sport and I invite all those passionate about golf to join us.”
Deveau, Dunning and Beaulieu will lead Golf Canada’s 2016 Board of Directors which also includes Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont., Dale Jackson of Victoria, Rob MacDonald of Winnipeg, Don MacKay of Bracebridge, Ont., Nick Marrone of Toronto, Pat Thompson of Kelowna, B.C., and Allison Chisholm of Rothesay, N.B., as well as immediate past president Paul McLean.
John Horton, Jim Clark, Allan ‘Bunny’ Dunlop and Brian MacLeod honoured as recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award
Created in 1993, Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service award has been presented annually to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada. This year’s recipients are former Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) president John Horton and long-time volunteer Jim Clark along with a pair of posthumous honourees – former NSGA historian Allan ‘Bunny’ Dunlop and Blind Golf Canada co-founder Brian MacLeod, who both passed away in 2015. Click here for more information on the four honourees.
Pat Irwin named Volunteer of the Year
Pat Irwin of Ladysmith, B.C., was recognized as Golf Canada’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year. This marks the tenth year in which the association has recognized individuals for their tremendous efforts and commitment to grow the game in their community. Click here for more information on Pat Irwin.
Doug Alexander appointed as Honorary Life Governor
Congratulations to Doug Alexander of London, Ont., on being named an Honorary Life Governor with Golf Canada. Alexander served as Golf Canada’s 111th president in 2014.
Annual Report & Strategic Plan
Click here to read Golf Canada’s 2015 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the association’s 2015 Financial Statements.
Click here for Golf Canada’s 2016 Strategic Plan, outlining the key activities that Golf Canada is focused on as the National Sport Federation and governing body for golf in the country.
Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting is an important week in the lead up to the 2016 golf season. In addition to appointing its new president and members to the Board of Directors, the association presents details of its strategic plan and gathers with key stakeholders from the provincial golf associations and a number of national association partners. The AGM also celebrates key accomplishments from the previous year and provides the association with a forum to discuss issues and opportunities facing the Canadian golf industry.
To follow Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Twitter, use #GCAGM16.