“The Gilbert Awards”

In 1997 the Club award for the most outstanding male and female athletes in the Club for both track and field events were renamed the “The Gilbert Awards”. Named after the seven time winner of the award, Glenroy came to exemplify the true spirit of a champion. This award now honours his achievements.

Glenroy’s international team career spanned from 1986 to 2001. He represented Canada in four consecutive Summer Olympiads from 1988 to 2000 (Seoul – Long Jump, Barcelona – 4 x 100m Relay, Atlanta – 100m & 4 x100m Relay, Sydney – 4 x 100m Relay) and in the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics Games in the 2 and 4 man Bobsleigh. 

The 1996 Atlanta Men’s 4 x 100m Relay Gold Medal achievement relied heavily on Gilbert’s selfless character and team leadership skills. Glenroy was inducted to the Canadian Hall of Fame in November, 2008. From 1993 to 1998 the Canadian Men’s 4 x 100m Relay Team dominated the world athletics scene with one consistent factor … Glenroy.

Gilbert Award Winners

Note: 1992 was the first year for separated awards to both a track & field athletes.

In the Club’s beginning (1974), the Lions awarded the “Most Outstanding Athlete” Award by selecting the best from among both male and female athletes. The initial co-winners were Hollie Saygon (Denny) & Corinne Cote. In 1975 the Award was separated by gender and then again further separated in 1992 by both track & field athlete categories.

The Denis Landry Memorial Award
MOST OUTSTANDING ATHLETE: uOttawa X-Country / Track & Field

Named to honour the Ottawa’s three-time National University Cross Country Coach of the Year – Denis Landry (86, 87, 90), this award was initiated in 2008 with Denis’s death at that age of 60 years from cancer. Coach Landry was a leader, a teacher and an administrative sport pioneer at both Athletics Ontario and Athletics Canada. The award is presented to the University of Ottawa’s most outstanding male and female athletes, and considers performance achievement in both the sports of Cross Country and Track & Field as well as the qualities of team leadership and sportsmanship.

“THE SAM ESTWICK MEMORIAL AWARD” (MOST OUTSTANDING PARA ATHLETE)

Sam Estwick was a Community volunteer who joined the East-Ottawa Lions Service Club in the early 1970’s and through his involvement with their sports committee, became the driving force for the creation of the East Ottawa Lions Track & Field Club. When he served as Club President, he introduced management principles to the Club and built an administrative organization, with parents and other volunteers doing the business-type functions so the coaches could devote their time to coaching. He is one of the few lifetime members of the club. After stepping down as President, he continued to officiate at meets and promote participation in the club. Throughout his life, Sam struggled with and surmounted adversity. In 1982 an award was created in his honour, presented each year to the outstanding athlete with a disability.

“SEAN COLE MEMORIAL AWARD” for DEDICATION TO CLUB SERVICE

Sean Cole (1956 to 1978) – This award is presented to a Club member whose qualities of volunteer presence go far beyond the boundaries of expectation and service. This award is in the memory of Sean Cole who died in March of 1978. At only 21 years of age, he was one of the Lion’s top distance running prospects. Sean was also a scholar at Carleton University. This award commemorates the fine qualities and dedication to life, to all-round achievement and to good.