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April 28, 2006
ABOUT CAAWS
Tricia Smith receives Carol Anne Letheren Award
QUÉBEC CITY, - Tricia Smith of Vancouver, whose career spans more than 30 years of involvement in sport as a competitor and volunteer leader, is the third recipient of the Carol Anne Letheren International Sport Leadership Award. The award was announced today during the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) Congress in Quebec City.
This award, established by the COC and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), honours Letheren's legacy both in Canada and internationally. A former International Olympic Committee Member and CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Letheren made an outstanding contribution in the area of international sport leadership and had a profound impact on sport and physical activity.
"Tricia is a dynamic example of an athlete who has chosen to continue giving back to sports beyond the competitive venue," said Phyllis Berck, past chair of CAAWS. "She has not been content to merely sit back on a Board or a Committee, but she has taken on a leadership role in nearly every organization she has served. She leads by encouraging others in their areas of responsibility, with a quiet persuasive style, yet never losing sight of achieving specific objectives. And, she has constantly worked to bring women, and women's issues to the attention of organizations at the provincial, national and international levels."
Chris Rudge, CEO of the COC, applauded Tricia Smith's role as an ambassador for Canada. "Tricia commands the greatest respect at a national and international level in sport due to her vast experience and knowledge. She is widely respected as a loyal champion for athletes because she always places their needs first. As we honour Carol Anne Letheren's legacy, we are delighted to partner with CAAWS to present this award to someone who leads by example and is a role model for other women in sport."
Smith, a four-time Olympian in rowing, started her Olympic career at the 1976 Olympic Summer Games in the first-ever Olympic regatta for women. She was on Canada's first medal-winning team at the 1977 World Championships. Among her notable achievements, she won seven World Championship medals, a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games, and a gold medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
These significant athletic achievements are more than matched by her contribution to and impact on sport and particularly women in sport. She co-founded and co-chaired Rowing Canada's first Athletes' Advisory Council with the goal of providing athlete input into the decision-making of the organization. Smith was also a member of the first Athletes' Advisory Council of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Shortly after retiring from rowing following the 1988 Olympic Games, she became a member of the Board of Rowing B.C., beginning her prolific career as a volunteer in sport.
The past chair of Sport BC and a past Board member of the Commonwealth Centre for Sport Development (now Pacific Sport), she was also the BC government's appointee to the BC Advisory Council on Drugs and Sport and she worked with Sport Medicine BC to design drug testing protocols.
Smith is a Partner at Barnes Craig & Associates, managing claims for liability insurers, providing risk management consulting and acting as an Arbitrator on a variety of sport issues. She currently provides leadership in sport as a member of:
- the Executive Committee of the International Rowing Federation (FISA);
- the Executive Committee of the Canadian Olympic Committee;
- the Board of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS);
and a volunteer on numerous other Boards.
Smith was recently named as Chef de Mission for the Canadian Team at the Pan American Games in 2007.
The award is presented every two years, in Olympic Games years. It was first presented in 2002 to Marion Lay of Vancouver. In 2004, it was presented to Slava Corn of Toronto.
CAAWS wants to create opportunities for girls and women to be active in sport and physical activity. It encourages them to get out of the bleachers, and onto the ice surfaces, off the sidelines and onto the fields and playing courts, and into the pools, locker rooms and boardrooms. A not-for-profit organization, CAAWS offers a number of services, programs and resources to a variety of clients, including sport and physical activity organizations, teachers, coaches, health professionals and recreation leaders. CAAWS works in close co-operation with government and non-government organizations on activities and initiatives that advocate for positive change for young girls and women in the sport and physical activity communities.
Background - Tricia Smith
EDUCATION and DEGREES:
- University of British Columbia - 2001, Honorary Doctorate of Law
- University of British Columbia 1985, Bachelor of Law
- University of British Columbia - 1981, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
- Principal, Consultant and Adjuster with Barnes Craig & Associates, 1992 to present, dealing with Professional Liability, Liability and Personal Injury, Errors and Omissions, Claims Consulting, Risk Management (including Sport and Recreation) and Sport Arbitration including Team Selection, Harassment and Doping Issues.
- Associate Lawyer with Alexander, Holburn, Beaudin & Lang, Barristers & Solicitors, 1986 to 1992. General Insurance Litigation Practice specialising in Sport and Recreation Claims, Occupiers Liability, Motor Vehicle, Personal Injury, Property Damage and Negligence Claims.
ACTIVITIES:
- Member of the Executive Committee International Rowing Federation (F.I.S.A.).
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
- Chair Women's Commission (F.I.S.A.)
- Board Member, International Council of Arbitration for Sport (I.C.A.S.), Lausanne.
- Arbitrator, Alternate Dispute Resolution for Sport, ADRSPORTRED
- Arbitrator, Centre for Sport and Law.
- Board Member, Canadian Olympic Committee and Member of the Legal Committee.
- Board Member Vancouver 2010 Bid and Member of International Team to 2003
- Past-Chair, B.C. Chapter of Olympians Canada
- Canadian Representative, World Olympians Association to 2003.
- Board Member, Rick Hansen Institute.
- Board Member, B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and Chair Selection Committee.
- Co-Chair, Friends of Burnaby Lake, Course Revitalisation Project.
- Board Member, Hamber Foundation.
SPORT and ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE:
- Four-time Olympian, 1984 Olympic Silver Medallist, 1986 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and Seven-time World Championship Medallist.
- Past Chair, Sport BC (umbrella organisation of Amateur Sports in B.C.)
- Past Board Member, Commonwealth Centre for Sport Development.
- Past President, University of British Columbia Alumni Association.
- Member of the First Athletes' Advisory Council, Canadian Olympic Association
- Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the First Athletes' Advisory Council Rowing Canada Aviron.
- Appointee by the Provincial Government to the B.C. Advisory Council on Drugs and Sport and Advisor on Drug Testing Procedures and Protocols 1990 1992.
- Member of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Policy on Penalties for Doping Infractions Canadian Anti Doping Organisation - 1992.
AWARDS:
- Six time recipient, Sport Excellence Award, Government of Canada
- BC Premier's Athletic Award (6 times between 1981 and 1987)
- Nominated for the BC Athlete of the Quarter Century
- Member of the University of British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame
- 1991, admitted to the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame
- 1994 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, University of B.C.
- 1998 Canadian Olympic Sports Hall of Fame
- 1999 The President's Award, Rowing Canada Aviron
- 2001 Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, University of British Columbia
- 2004 Finalist in the Canadian Sport Awards - The Bruce Kidd Award for Athlete Leadership
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