BRUCE ROBERTSON AWARDED SOVEREIGN’S MEDAL
Honour Proffered by the Governor General Recognizes Exceptional Volunteer Achievements
OTTAWA – Passion, dedication and commitment to community are the driving forces behind the volunteers who receive the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. The medal, which is part of the Canadian Honours System, recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields.
Bruce Robertson, Member of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board and past member of the Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) Board of Directors, has been awarded the Sovereign’s Medal in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the Commonwealth sport movement, both in Canada and internationally. A Member of the Order of Canada, Bruce has devoted countless volunteer hours to CGC for over 30 years as a Member-at-Large, Treasurer, Vice President, and as President of the Commonwealth Games Foundation of Canada. He has also served on various CGC committees, including a term as Chair of the International Development through Sport Advisory Committee as well as the International Relations Committee and the Bid and Hosting Committee.
A very successful competitive swimmer, he won two of Canada’s total of five medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, silver in the 100m butterfly and bronze in the 4x100m medley relay. At the 1973 World Aquatic Championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, he won the gold medal in the 100m butterfly and a relay bronze medal. He was also the most decorated Canadian athlete at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, winning a total of six medals. Bruce was named Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year in 1973 and was awarded the Order of Canada a year later. In 1977, he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Canadian Aquatic Hall of Fame, the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
Bruce has had significant impact within the Commonwealth Games movement internationally. Since 1990 he has volunteered his time, vision and expertise to drive forward the future direction of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), elected to senior positions on the Governing Body’s Board and Committee structure including Finance Committee member, Regional Vice President, Audit and Risk Committee Chair, CGF Sport Committee Chair and, since 2003, CGF Vice-President.He has contributed countless hours and extensive expertise to the organisers of every Games since 2002 either as a member, or latterly as Chair, of the CGF Co-ordination Commission – the network of expert individuals appointed by the CGF charged with supporting and overseeing the work of Games’ Organizing Committees.
Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), wrote in support of Bruce’s nomination for the Sovereign Medal. “For over 30 years”, she stated, “Bruce Robertson has made a significant yet selfless contribution to the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Sports Movement, playing a fundamental role in our vision to unite athletes, citizens and communities across the Commonwealth through sport. During his tenure, his achievements have been manifold. He has led the reinvention of the CGF sports programme; the development of our ground-breaking and world-leading Gender Equality Strategy; the establishment of the Commonwealth Sport University Network; in addition to a host of initiatives focused on supporting athletes, coaches and officials and driving forward the governance, budgeting and management of the Commonwealth Games Federation. We are genuinely indebted to his service.”
Commonwealth Games Canada congratulates Bruce on this honour”, said CGC President Richard Powers. “His impact on Commonwealth sport, at home and abroad, is deep and enduring and reflects the shared values that are at the heart of the Commonwealth. Through sport, Bruce works tirelessly to instill those values into every citizen of the Commonwealth, uniting the diverse Commonwealth nations.”
An official honour created by the Crown, the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers has incorporated and replaced the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, which was created in 1995, by then-Governor General the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc. The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers consists of a silver circular medal that depicts a contemporary effigy of the Sovereign, circumscribed with the inscription in capital letters of the Canadian Royal Title and the word “CANADA”, separated by two maple leaves. The reverse bears a large and a small heart interlaced, set with five maple leaves on the outer edge of the large heart which is surmounted by a coronet bearing three maple leaves.
For more information on the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, visit: http://caring.gg.ca.
For information:
Commonwealth Games Canada
Brian MacPherson
Chief Executive Officer
613.244.6868 x226
ABOUT COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.
