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The Achilles Builders Award was created to recognize exceptional volunteers. Six inaugural recipients for 2022 were presented at an Achilles Celebration event on December 5th, 2022 and another three on February 27th, 2024.
Each year the Achilles International Track & Field Society (Achilles or Society) Board will endeavour to recognize and celebrate one or more Achilles Board members or volunteers with the “Achilles Builders Award.”
Criteria for Award
The Award is to recognize exceptional Achilles members who have made a significant volunteer contribution to the activities of the Society in organizing and hosting athletic events over an extended time. The winner can be a retired or still active volunteer member of Achilles.
Selection Method for Award
A small subcommittee of Achilles each year will consult with the past winners of the Builders Award, and consider a list of worthy volunteer nominees. Nominations are accepted from active or retired Achilles volunteer members.
Nominations should be submitted to Achilles on the nomination form (link below) by November 15, each year.
Nomination Form.The Achilles Board will approve new Achilles Builders, who will normally be recognized at a year end event and a posting on this site.
Form of Award
At a minimum a framed letter/certificate signed by the Achilles Chair and/or Chair Emeritus plus a small gift of art, craft or picture. For example, the picture of Harry Jerome statue ies well to Achilles and what we do. Award recipients are listed on the Harry Jerome website with a short write up for each.
2025 Award Recipients:
At an Achilles Celebration reception on February 26, 2025, three more awards were presented by Achilles Chair Ken Poskitt. Assisting him was Lynn Kanuka for Thelma, who was her coach for the 1984 Olympics in LA, Achilles Meet Director Nigel Hole for his mentor Mark Tourigny. Accepting Mark’s award was his wife Lesley. Brian Pound author of the Achilles 60 Year History book presented the award to Brian Cliff.
Thelma Wright
Athlete, teacher, coach, volunteer, mother, grandmother, manager, organizer…..
Thelma first competed at the Achilles Indoor meet in 1970 setting what was then a Canadian Junior indoor record of 2:10.0. The same year, still 18 years old, she won bronze medals at the World Cross Country Championships and 1500 metres at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games. These performances ranked her as one of the world’s leading middle-distance runners. She repeated her 1500 bronze run at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games, a silver medal in 1975 Mexico City Pan Am Games, and represented Canada at both the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games in Munich and Montreal.
Retiring at 24, Thelma began teaching and coaching at school, club, and university levels. Her success as a coach was highlighted by Lynn Kanuka (Williams) setting records and winning numerous medals, especially the bronze medal in the inaugural 3000M race at the 1984 Olympics in LA.
Thelma’s involvement with the Achilles International Track & Field Society paralleled her volunteerism as an Athletics Canada team manager for more than 25 teams. Fellow ’72 Olympian Ken Elmer initially got her involved with the Vancouver Sun Run in its early days, helping with Elite Athlete Hospitality. Friendship with Doug and Diane Clement, and the symbiosis between the Sun Run and Achilles, naturally led to volunteering with Achilles and the Jerome Track Classic. She organized and oversaw the Award presentations and Opening Ceremonies at the Jerome outdoor meets for close to 35 years.
In Thelma’s own words: “Under the careful watch of meet director Kim Young, I made sure, along with Diane, all dignitaries were greeted, mingled in the VIP area, seated near the finish line, and then lined up in time for the march out for the Opening Ceremonies. Trying to keep to the eight minutes Kim dictated on the tight meet schedule was always a juggling act. It was great fun and challenging every year to see how many of Diane’s list of dignitaries could be fitted in, especially as so many wanted to ‘say a few words’.”
Various tasks also included cuing the national anthems and singers, finding French announcers, coordinating with the RCMP colour guard and decorating the podium with plants. Next was rounding up the winning athletes for the ongoing award presentations while keeping the presenters available and on time for their quick march out. Thelma notes that it was sometimes chaotic but always so rewarding to see the great performances of the athletes, and for all the Achilles committee members to receive accolades for how successful the Jerome Classic continues to be year after year.
Thelma’s lifetime of striving for excellence was successfully applied to her many Achilles’ volunteer activities for the benefit of countless athletes and fans of our sport.
Mark Tourigny (1954-2024)
Mark Tourigny had an eclectic career starting out as a musician for 11 years before returning to university where he completed a masters business degree in urban land economics. Based on his success with his real estate investment career, he dedicated himself to giving back to the community primarily focussed on athletics and underprivileged students.
As a long-time runner, he actively supported the Vancouver Olympic Club and was President for six years beginning in 2006. His exceptional leadership, vision and commitment led to his establishing in 2007 the Jerome Outreach Society, initially with the aid of the Achillies International Track and Field Society. As the founder, Mark provided essential sports programs to disadvantaged children in Vancouver's inner-city schools. His innovative approach was to find sponsors and recruit athlete role models to coach in these schools. As a result, these programs were not only accessible but highly impactful. His actions significantly enhanced the character and life skill development and performance of disadvantaged students.
Another major initiative he spearheaded via Jerome Outreach was the Junior Development (JD) Relays open to track clubs and elementary schools. The popular 4x100M JD relays were held as part of the Jerome International Track Meet at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. It was free to enter for grades 4 to 7 boys and girls in eight races. You can imagine the youngsters’ excitement, first, to be at a major track meet running in front of a crowd of spectators and second, the impact of watching Olympic stars like Andre De Grasse competing later! In fact, they mobbed him after his races.
Mark was also a Board member of Achilles for many years. He was a hands-on leader, who exemplified enthusiasm, optimism, kindness and a deep commitment to advancing athletics for athletes of all abilities and ages. This was demonstrated by his volunteering for marshalling the athletes at the multi-generational Jerome Indoor Games each year. He leaves a rich legacy and as noted by BC Athletics, “he truly believed in the transformative power of athletics”.
His wife Lesley proudly accepts this Achilles Builders Award on Mark’s behalf.
Brian Cliff
Brian comes by his love of track and field honestly. He is a former member of the Richmond Track and Field Club and UBC, competing in 400 and 800 metres and 4x400M relay at provincial and national levels.
In 1965, Brian snapped the first photos of his teammates making this the 60th anniversary of Brian’s entry into sports photography. His catalog has grown to over 27,000 images including almost 11,000 taken at Achilles events. To be clear, that is not the number of photos he has shot during that time, that’s the number he has kept.
“It probably wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’ve pushed the shutter button more than 60,000 times just for Achilles,” Brian says.
Brian’s historical collection of photos, layout and publication expertise also made for the success of the Achilles History Book, Sixty Years of Track and Feld History. “Without his amazing photographs the book would never have happened,” said book author Brian Pound.
Brian’s association with Achilles began in 2011. Brian’s late wife Anne was invited to present medals at a high school indoor meet and Brian brought his camera along initially just to photograph Anne at work. Doug Clement, along with all his other responsibilities at the meet, was also planning to photograph the action, so Brian offered to help.
Brian soon became Achilles’ chief photographer at track and field meets, media events and volunteer and sponsor celebrations. His skills have enhanced Achilles audio visual presence on social media, Achilles website, and branding materials such as slide shows and posters. The quality of his “hobby” is professional output of the highest order.
Achilles salutes an incredible individual who you will find at meets, despite all weather conditions, photographing the event for the history books.
2024 Award Recipients:
At an Achilles Celebration reception on February 27, 2024, three more awards were presented by Doug and Diane Clement.
Ken Elmer
Ken Elmer was a Richmond Kajak middle distance runner and represented Canada in the 1972 Olympics (1500 metres) and 1975 Pan American Games (800 & 1,500 metres). When Achilles resumed outdoor meets in 1983, Ken stepped forward and became the Harry Jerome Event Director for 19 years.Ken’s stated goal was to create a British Columbia International track series that featured Canada’s best against the World. Leveraging his international athlete connections and ability to recruit many volunteers to his organizing committees, he greatly succeeded. He put together Jerome track meets that filled the stadium and featured many outstanding world-class athletes, including Eamon Coghlan, Cathy Freeman, Carl Lewis, Peter Rono, Mary Decker Slaney, Dailey Thompson and John Walker to name but a few. Our Canadian superstars including Lynn Williams/Kanuka, Donovan Bailey, Bruni Surin, Charmaine Crooks, Atlee Mahorn and Graeme Fell and many more greatly benefitted from this top-level competition while attracting crowds of track fans.Also important to Achilles was Ken’s role in organizing with his volunteer committee the Vancouver Sun Run for 10 years starting in 1985. He eventually negotiated that Achilles was paid up to $75,000 based on the numbers of entrants. This ensured that Achilles had the resources to run and attract international stars to the Harry Jerome outdoor summer track meet. This crucial financial support from the Vancouver Sun endured until 2022.Realizing the importance of showcasing the sport to other BC centers, Ken took the Achilles show on the road to New Westminster, Prince George, Abbotsford and Kelowna. And Victoria and Port Alberni (Ken’s hometown) used the draw of the athletes coming to The Jerome and the support of Achilles to stage their own track meets the week following. In total, Ken was instrumental in about 30 international track meets being held across BC. Overall, Ken was vital to the success of Achilles, by bringing high level international and Canadian athletes to The Jerome, and during his tenure having it recognized worldwide as the top meet in Canada.
Dennis Hoy
You could easily say Dennis Hoy has been the heart and soul of Achilles activities, both outdoor and indoors. Dennis has been a volunteer with Achilles for 32 years. He was a 400-metre runner at the club (Kajaks), university (SFU, UBC) and provincial championship level. Dennis was a high school teacher who volunteered in track all his life. This included managing teams at the Canada Games, Canadian championships, and World Youth and University games. For Achilles, he took charge of one of most difficult tasks, the role of Athlete accommodations. The challenge was to find the most affordable prices at the best hotels and make the athletes feel special. And this had to be done many weeks in advance of the track meet. Dennis over the years also looked after Star athlete hospitality, athlete transportation, athlete message therapy sessions and arranging the meet’s popular post race reception. As a result, many athletes came back year after year, drawn by the well-known hospitality of the Jerome, which they said was unmatched at European and North American track meets.Also important to Achilles was Dennis’ key role in organizing various aspects of the Vancouver Sun Run, which started in 1985. This included mobilizing his school, Cambie Secondary, to be the largest volunteer group on site. With the Vancouver Sun Run paying Achilles for all the organizational support, up to $75,000 eventually, this ensured that Achilles had the resources to run and attract international stars to compete at the Harry Jerome outdoor summer track meet. This crucial support from the Vancouver Sun endured until 2022.At the annual Indoor meet since 2011, and Rain Forest Trail Run/Walk since 2019, Dennis’ volunteer duties included greeting and registering athletes and providing race bibs. Dennis has been “the welcoming and smiling face” of Achilles to thousands of competitors and coaches at countless events. Any volunteer task, big or small, was never a problem for Dennis to handle extremely well.
Marek Jedrzejek
The most anxious committee member each year to learn the date of the next Achilles meet was Marek Jedrzejek. You see, for 19 years he was responsible for dealing with athlete’s representatives/agents and convincing them to have their athlete(s) compete at the Jerome. It takes a special kind of person and Marek meets the mould.Marek has been a member of the Achilles’ committee since 2003 and is the former UBC coach (1987-2015) and was a Canadian coach at several World and Olympic championships. He can be proud of his negotiations over the years to attract big name Canadian Olympic athletes such as Andre de Grasse, Evan Dunfee, Gary Reed, Dylan Armstrong, Melissa Bishop and Damian Warner to the Jerome meets. DeGrasse attracted a crowd of 6,000 in his first of two appearances. He admits that he had some sleepless nights hoping these stars stayed healthy and showed up for the track meets and its fans.Notably, Marek was also instrumental in the complex task of bringing top Chinese track teams to compete at the Jerome against Canadian teams on four different years. With the retirement of Doug and Diane Clement, Marek took on the big challenge of being Achilles president (2021-2022). Under his direction and encouragement, The Jerome was recognized as a Heritage Competition by World Athletics, commissioned an Achilles History Book 1964-2023 and successfully launched the Clement Scholarships endowment fund for UBC and SFU athletes. As a testament to all his years of involvement in the sport, he was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) track and field and cross-country coaching Hall of Fame in 2023.
Inaugural 2022 Award Recipients:
Inaugural recipients in 2022 were presented awards at the Achilles Celebration Dinner on December 5th, by Doug and Diane Clement and Dennis Hoy.
LESLIE ABRAMSON
You could find her working at VIP receptions, meet and hotel registrations, arranging volunteer meals at both indoor and outdoor meets, overseeing any tiny problems that had to be solved.
Leslie was also a BC record holder in the shot put as a member of the Burnaby Striders under the coaching of Achilles original member the late Don Steen. Such was her talent that one year she was nominated for BC Athlete of the Year. Her opponent was a sprinter named Harry Jerome. “I never stood a chance,” she recently recalled.
A memory that stands out?
She was part of the staging team in Richmond for the Canadian team travelling to the 1988 Seoul South Korean Olympic Games and remembers sprinter Ben Johnson refusing to take his Canadian team jersey with him. It was produced by the company he was not sponsored by.Rule one: You cannot participate at the Games if you are not wearing your country’s official jersey. Realizing the urgency to get the team colors to the Seoul Games, Leslie shipped the uniform to Diane Clement who was Canada’s Chef de Mission for the Games. It arrived in time and Ben wore it after a talk with Diane. We all know the outcome of his performance don’t we.Leslie says during her years with track and field she met some wonderful people and made some good friends and will always have those wonderful memories in her heart.
ANNE ELIZABETH CLIFF *
*1950-2020 (Written by husband Brian)
Anne Covell joined the Richmond track and field club in 1966 and in that year posted some impressive sprint times. In 1967, with Coach Diane Clement’s encouragement and tutelage, Anne added the 400m to her repertoire. In the 1968 season, a careful observer should have seen what Anne recognized. “Every time I stepped on the track my times were faster.” At the Canadian Championships and Olympic Trials in Toronto, Anne had dropped her 400m time an incredible 3.6 seconds to 56.0 seconds. On Saturday, August 10, the day after her 18th birthday, Anne stepped off the track having shaved another full second of her personal best, run the second fastest time by a Canadian woman, met the qualifying Olympic standard of 55 seconds and earned a spot on Canada’s 1968 Mexico Olympic team.Anne became Doug and Diane’s first Olympian and her performance in Mexico was outstanding. In a very strong heat, Anne finished fifth, and although she didn’t advance, her time of 54.3 seconds set a new Canadian record, which would stand for another eight years.
Anne continued to compete internationally before retiring in 1972 to pursue a teaching career. As a high school Phys Ed teacher, and later a Counsellor, Anne always coached track and numerous team sports. When she retired in 2007, she continued to give back to the sport and the sporting community that had given her so much by contributing an increasing amount of time to Achilles. She became a Board member and integral part of Diane’s “A Team.” This meant taking on any and all tasks required to contribute to the success of the Society’s indoor and outdoor meets, media and social events.If Anne was standing before you, I believe she would say: “Thank you. Considering the enormous contributions my fellows recipients tonight have made to Achilles and the support they have given to the Canadian track and field community, I am truly in exalted company.”
BRIAN POUND
Funny story: At the first Pacific Coliseum meet, Achilles gave away an expensive watch as a door prize and Brian was to announce the winner. He was handed the winning name and without glancing at the name first read it off. It was his father.
In 1964, the Province newspaper became the major sponsor of the inaugural Achilles meet and assigned Brian, their track and field reporter, to promote the meet. Unheard of today, he was given a private office and told his only job was to provide one feature story a day on the meet and then two stories a day as the meet got closer. That was the beginning of his association with Achilles. He would continue to cover Achilles meets over the years, and on two occasions still as a reporter, he was the announcer at the first two Achilles indoor meets at the Pacific Coliseum.
Funny story: At the first Pacific Coliseum meet, Achilles gave away an expensive watch as a door prize and Brian was to announce the winner. He was handed the winning name and without glancing at the name first read it off. It was his father.
After a three year stay in Toronto as the Telegram’s night sports editor, Brian returned to BC and once again hooked up with Achilles and has been a Committee/Board member for many years, until stepping down this year.
Brian’s main task for Achilles was to act as a Media Co-Ordinator, working with media covering the event, and then to do wrap up stories on the meet for the Achilles web page.
Earlier on, Brian accompanied Doug Clement to Budapest to conduct a meeting with Soviet officials to bring their Olympic track and field team to Vancouver for an indoor meet. The meeting was successful, but the meet wasn’t. It was given up for not being able to find a sponsor and was eventually held in Montreal.
And then there was Harry Jerome. Brian says he has many fond highlight memories as a reporter, but the ones that stand out was being there to cover Harry when he either tied or broke five of his seven World records. And being in Jamaica to cover Harry’s 100 yard victory at the Commonwealth Games (his first major International victory), as well as the Portland indoor Games where Harry tied the World indoor 60 yard mark. This was a feat his coach Bill Bowerman told Brian was the greatest comeback in track and field history.
As a give-back to all his years with Achilles, Brian, along with talented Achilles photographer Brian Cliff, is currently completing a book telling the history and story of Achilles and other track and field adventures.
CARL SAVAGE
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Kim and Carl worked as a team, Kim as Meet Director and Carl as Assistant Meet Director. He described that his role often included obtaining equipment at the last minute – and just doing whatever it takes!There are so many Achilles highlights over the years, for Carl and he chose these two. In 1984, 400M Hurdler Lloyd Guss made Canada’s Olympic team at the Achilles “Last Chance Meet” in Swangard Stadium, qualifying by one tenth of a second. He joined Lynn Kanuka who won Bronze at the Los Angeles Olympics. This was followed by the agony in 1988, when Lloyd missed qualifying for his third Olympics by 1/100th of a second. Fast forward to the Jerome meet in 2018, where Achilles conceived and hosted the China-Canada Sprint Challenge. Once again Achilles provided a platform for Canada’s national team. He noted, “It’s always been about the athletes and giving them the best opportunity to compete and improve.”
Carl’s love of sports started in the UK at his Grammar School where he competed in the Long Jump,100m, Javelin and Rugby. In university he played Soccer, which he continued when he came to B.C. But Track became his major focus, and he says he was “honoured to represent Canada as a coach in many International Games”.
Carl’s coaching resume is impressive. Over 40 years his coaching roles included the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams, and in the 1980’s the Pan Am and Commonwealth Games. He also was the Sprints and Hurdles coach at the Richmond Kajaks for 33 years and Ocean Athletics for seven, while overlapping with coaching the UBC Track team for 27 years.
GERRY SWAN
Just days before the inaugural Achilles meet in 1964, Gerry convinced the committee to buy rain insurance. Well, it did rain, and it didn’t stop for most of the morning prior to meet time. The decision saved Achilles from financial ruin.
Gerry’s resume is impressive, and he has seen it all as an athlete, coach and administrator. One of only three survivors from the original Achilles committee (Doug Clement and Kim Young are the others), Gerry at times has acted as a Meet Director, President and Vice-President of Achilles and the Society’s Secretary
For a short time, Gerry also served as the chairperson of the BC Track and Field Association.
As a coach, Gerry was instrumental in creating one of the most talented track and field clubs, not only in BC but Canada as well, the Valley Royal Club out of his hometown, Abbotsford.
Gerry was also a runner of note, winning a host of races from the 880 yds. to two miles. At the 1951 Canadian Junior Championships in Toronto, Gerry won the two mile event and won the trophy for Performance of the Meet. While attending Western Washington University in Bellingham, Gerry qualified four straight years for the NAIA national championships finishing second in the two mile run twice.
Of all the Achilles outdoor meets staged over the years, the second one in 1965 sticks out the most. Gerry was acting as Meet Director and the highlight event was the men’s mile with a truly international field highlighted by New Zealand’s great Peter Snell, who was on a World Fairwell tour. The crowd was big with 10,000 spectators turning out to see one of the greatest milers of all time perform. He didn’t. He wasn’t feeling well and finished the race in last place! Afterwards Snell asked Gerry if he could address the crowd to apologize for his performance. It brought a standing ovation.
Gerry sums it all up this way: “My participation first as a competitive runner followed by the roll of volunteer within track and field has allowed me to find purpose in ways that would not have been possible without that involvement.”
KIM YOUNG
*1942 - 2023
Due to poor health, Kim was unable to attend the Celebration dinner.
The award was accepted from Dennis Hoy, by his daughter Gaby, wife Faye and son Ryan.
The Richmond native has been associated with Achilles for 58 years, beginning in 1964 and for more than four decades has played a major role in the development of not only the Society, but track and field in general.
Beginning in 1970, Kim took over the roles of Meet Director at both Achilles indoor and outdoor meets, giving it up once Covid caused a pause to outdoor meets.
Kim could also coach. In 1979 and 1981, he was selected Head Coach of the Canadian team for the Pan American Games, and in 1987 Head Coach for the Canadian women’s team in an International competition against powerful East Germany.
If you ask him, he’d tell you his greatest joy is the lifetime friendships that grew from his Achilles family. Athletes of all ages and abilities who have reconnected with him as the year’s passed have reminded him of the impact he had on them. This includes Tinker Allester, Ken Blaschuk and Dennis Hoy.
Since Kim began coaching track and field with Richmond Kajaks in the mid 60s, he has been committed to ensuring the development of each of his athletes. This passion for development has brought him great joy.
And all this, from a true gentleman who started out as a basketball player.
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