For Immediate Release | November 22, 2021
Uxbridge, ON – With a challenging yet very strong 2021 Championship season behind us, it is now time to appreciate the true MVPs of Golf Ontario: our volunteers. We wouldn’t be able to run such successful events or provide elite support to each participant and their families without the support and dedication of these spectacular volunteers. We thank and appreciate all the hours, energy, and most importantly the passion, each of our volunteers contributes throughout the busy season. On Tuesday, October 12th, Golf Ontario held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Day, hosted by our incredible friends at Woodington Lake Golf Club. This day of golf is always a special event in celebrating our amazing volunteers.
As COVID-19 continues to affect our lives and the way we celebrate together, Golf Ontario conducted its’ 2021 Volunteer Recognition Day virtually on Monday, November 22nd. This event is one of the most important days in the Golf Ontario calendar as we get a chance to celebrate and honour some of our best volunteers from the 2021 season
To watch the 2021 Volunteer Recognition Day, view the winners
and hear the acceptance speeches,
please click here.
“For an organization like Golf Ontario, volunteers are our lifeblood. Without the commitment, passion, energy, and knowledge of our volunteers, we simply could not conduct the amazing programming that we do to grow the game of golf every year”, said Golf Ontario Executive Director, Mike Kelly. “Our incredible volunteer army allows us to conduct world-class championships, deliver game-changing junior performance programming, and launch new events intended to get more people enjoying the game of golf.”
President of Golf Ontario’s Board of Directors, Susan Vail, added, “on behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank you for joining us for this celebratory event. We are so grateful for our volunteer team; especially with the challenges presented in the past season…we could not do what we do without you!”
Each year at Golf Ontario, there are some special accomplishments and contributions that are worth recognizing through our volunteer recognition awards. The recipients of these prestigious awards have gone above and beyond in 2021, or through their long-time contributions, and it is our distinct honour to celebrate them. The 2021 recipients are:
Volunteer of the Year Award – Dan Michaud
This year we are awarding the Volunteer of the Year honour to Dan Michaud. “Over the last 8 years, Dan has continuously shown his dedication to Golf Ontario. Dan has helped us out at multiple qualifiers and championships this season, providing his knowledge and mentorship at all levels. Dan has conducted seminars and workshops for many levels of rules interest. Dan is recognized as a top-level rules official by the Mackenzie Tour. Dan has helped move along new Level 2 Referees, ensuring they received the required experience”.
Dan’s knowledge, dedication and efforts he has given back to the organization have made him an amazing and deserving winner of the Volunteer of the Year award.
Dan commented, “it is definitely an honour, this is a great reward”. He added, “the opportunity to be involved, the opportunity to give back, the opportunity to participate with a lot of people and really Golf Ontario more so this year than probably any other year, with all the people I was involved with, were truly a family”.
Honorary Life Director – John Gallinger
Honorary Life Directors are recognized yearly for their outstanding achievements through their involvement as a Committee and Board Member. “This award goes to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to Golf Ontario’s vision and mission”, explained Mike Kelly.
The 2021 recipient of the Honorary Life Director award is John Gallinger. “John served as president from 2017-2018. He also sat on a number of committees including; Governance, Nominating Committee and Finance. His efforts, commitment and dedication to Golf Ontario never go unnoticed and for these reasons, we’re awarding John Gallinger with the Honorary Life Director Award.”
Jon said “this is truly a special recognition, I’m very appreciative and this is something I will always cherish. I know how important volunteers are to our organization and how lucky we are to have such a dedicated and talented group of volunteers.”
Distinguished Service Award – Wayne Silverman
This award will recognize an individual’s meritorious service to the game of golf in Ontario as a volunteer. The Distinguished Service Award was first awarded in 2005. Recipients of this award will embody the principles of integrity, dignity and commitment which are central to the volunteer experience. This honour recognizes individuals who over a significant period of time have demonstrated outstanding leadership and involvement in the growth of Amateur Golf in Ontario. The recipient will also demonstrate a commitment to the vision and mission of Golf Ontario by promoting and upholding the values of the association and the game.
The recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Service Award is Wayne Silverman. “Dan has demonstrated a long-term commitment to Golf Ontario, our mission and advancing the sport. Wayne Silverman, from Sarnia, has been a volunteer with the GAO since 2005. Wayne actively works as a level 3 Rules Official and a Site Coordinator while continuously demonstrating an outstanding amount of commitment to Golf Ontario.”
Wayne said after learning he won, “meeting the people involved with Golf Ontario has been a tremendous experience for me over all these years. He added, “with the shutdown in the spring and all the rescheduling this year, we got through it all properly and it turned out to be a great season.”
Mike Kelly summed up the 2021 Volunteer Recognition Day by saying “from myself and the entire Golf Ontario team. Thank you. Thank you for your years of commitment and support. And thank you, to those who were able, for stepping up this year and helping us through this roller coaster of a ride.”
Please see a message from Mike Kelly here.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and over 500-member groups and facilities, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.
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For more information please contact:
Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca
