December 10, 2004

Gail Blake ends brilliant 38-year career at Carleton

OTTAWA - Drew Love, Director of Physical Recreation and Athletics would like to announce that Gail Blake, Carleton University's Assistant Director of Athletics (Varsity) will be retiring from Carleton University on June 30, 2005.

Gail has been with Carleton University the past 38 years as a Student-Athlete, Coach and Administrator. Under Gail's leadership the Carleton University Ravens, formerly the Robins, have grown in all aspects of Intercollegiate Athletics. Gail is responsible for starting the Women's Field Hockey Program (1984), the Women's Soccer Program (1987) and the Women's Waterpolo Program (1988), these three programs alone have won numerous medals and have had many student-athletes named CIS and OUA All-Stars. Gail is also credited with building one of the strongest Women's Athletic Departments in the entire country. Her effortless fight for Women to have the same opportunities to participate in University Athletics ranks her among the top Coordinators in the history of the CIS.

In addition, Gail's contributions to the present day Department of Athletics are numerous, she was credited with setting up the Carleton University Summer Camp, which is considered one of the best summer camps in Ottawa, she fought for full time employees in the fields of Sports Information, Sport Therapy, Game Staging and Intramural & Competitive Club positions. Gail was instrumental in volunteering her knowledge and leadership to both the Ontario University Athletics (and the former OWIAA) and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). Gail served on committees dealing with Eligibility and Sport and served as President of the OWIAA during the early 1990's.

Gail also chaired numerous OUA Championships, at Carleton University, in Waterpolo, Soccer, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Nordic Skiing and Basketball. Showing the Ontario community that the Ravens were equiped to host high caliber Provincial Championships. The CIS also recognized her leadership and awarded the Ravens 4 CIS National Championships in both Men's and Women's Soccer.

Gail is also recognized for encouraging Carleton Coaches to volunteer and coach at the Provincial and National levels. To apply and volunteer for positions at FISU (World University Games) to sit on various CIS and OUA Committees, to have a voice within the OUA and CIS in their fields. Gail also engineered the rewarding of financial support for Student-Athletes and Coaches named to World University Games Teams. She believed that the Student-Athletes deserved a chance to compete on the world stage. More than a dozen student-athletes have represented Carleton in the past 10 years at various Summer and Winter Games.

A proud moment for Gail was watching the Carleton University Ravens Men's Basketball team crowned CIS National Champions, as Head Coach Dave Smart and the 2003 Raven Basketball team defeated Guelph, 57-54, on Sunday, March 17th, 2003. Gail also witnesses Coach Pavol Skvardilo and the Nordic Ski Program bring home four Canadian College and University National Nordic Ski Championships during her career as Assistant Director of Athletics.

She was an exceptional student-athlete, at Carleton University, from 1967-1970. Gail was a member of the Robins volleyball team. During her time on the team, she captained the 1969-1970 team to the Ontario-Quebec Women's Conference of Intercollegiate Athletics Championship. They compete in the first ever Canadian Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Union National Volleyball Tournament finishing sixth in the country. Gail was selected as the Ontario-Quebec Most Valuable Player in 1970. She won two Ruth Coe Memorial Awards, as Carleton's Female Athlete of the Year and after graduation, Coached the Robins Volleyball Program from 1970 to 1977.

Gail served under two Athletic Directors Keith Harris and Drew Love.

"We will miss Gail, but wish her well on her retirement from Carleton." Said Love. "Her accomplishments speak for themselves and she leaves a legacy that will keep the Department of Athletics in excellent shape for years to come."

Mr. Love will announce, in the Spring of 2005, when and where Carleton University will celebrate Gail's excellent career with her former Student-Athletes, Coaches, Staff and any member of her extended CIS and OUA Family. Details will be made available at a later date.

For information on the status of the position of Assistant Director (Varsity) please contact Drew Love, Director of Physical Recreation & Athletics, 613-520-5627 drew_love@carleton.ca

Source:

David