Ambassadors
International athletes who support our Mission and Vision and who, through their own athletic careers, have demonstrated the core values of For the Love of the Game.
David Ford
Five-time Olympian.
Best Olympic finish was 4th in 2004.
1999 world slalom champion – the only Canadian to ever win the title.
2003 World Championships silver medallist.
24-year veteran of the Canadian team.
Named the 2003 Male Athlete of the Year at the Canadian Sport Awards.
Kelly Vanderbeek
Olympic Downhiller.
World Cup Medallist.
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5x Olympic Broadcaster.
Calgary Stampede Parade & Primetime Host.
Host – Raising An Olympian Features.
Sports Journalist.
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Mother, Wife, Volunteer, Activist.
Ryan Smith
3 Rugby World Cups
Veteran back Smith has formerly plied his trade for French team US Montauban in the Top 14. After making his debut against the England Saxons in June 2003 – Smith went onto appear for the Canucks in the 2003 and later the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. Smith played 51 times for Canada, scoring 9 tries.
Gareth Rees
One of the most recognisable rugby stars of all-time, Rees won 55 test caps over a sensational career and played in four Rugby World Cup’s. He became the first North American inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2011.
Al Charron
4 Rugby World Cups.
Canada’s 2nd most capped player (67).
Matt Burke
The powerful fullback/centre was a match-winner of the highest order, either with his brilliant running game or an unerring boot.
Burke scored 959 points in 78 Super Rugby matches for the Waratahs (1996-2004), and tallied 878 points in 81 Tests for the Wallabies (1993-2004) – the latter just 33 short of Michael Lynagh’s Australian record.
Martin Johnson
Johnson is regarded as one of the greatest locks ever to have played, and one of England’s greatest ever players. He toured three times with the British and Irish Lions, becoming the first man to have captained them on two separate tours (prior to Sam Warburton). He also led his club Leicester Tigers to consecutive Heineken Cup victories, won the league five times including four consecutive victories as captain and won the Pilkington Cup twice. He was the England team manager from 2008 till 2011.
Craig Joiner
Scottish rugby union player who won 25 caps playing on the wing for the Scottish rugby union side between 1994 and 2000. He joined Leicester Tigers, and often played at outside centre, but returned to Scotland in 2000.
Richard ‘Jimmy’ Smith
A former rugby union player who played scrum-half for Ebbw Vale RFC, Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors, Newport RFC, Bristol Rugby, Cardiff RFC, Newbridge RFC, Merthyr RFC and Cardiff Blues. He was a regular in the Wales 22 but only gained one Wales cap. He is well known for using the box kick to relieve the pressure posed by the opposition and to also gain territory. He was a very skilful, technical and intelligent rugby player with excellent game management.