Canadian Masters 2016 Hall of Fame Inductees

2016 Hall of Fame Inductees

Based on recommendations made by the Hall of Fame Committee, the CMA Board inducts into the Canadian Masters Athletics Hall of Fame individuals who are judged to have made significant contributions to masters athletics in Canada, in either of two categories – as Athletes or as Executives or Administrators.
For the year 2016, two individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame: in the category of Athlete, the inductee will be Debbie Brill from Comox, BC, while in the category of Executive or Administrator, the late Richard Graves from Toronto, will be honoured.

Debbie Brill is well-known as a World record-setter in the High Jump, competing in the Olympics three times, and still holding Canadian open women’s records for the High Jump Indoors (set in 1982) and Outdoors (set in 1984). In masters competition, Debbie set World records in the High Jump for age groups W35, W40, W45 and W50, and still has six Canadian age group records. Her W35 World record has lasted 28 years to date. She won a W40 Silver Medal at the WMA Championships in 1995, and a Gold Medal with a W45 World record in 1999, at a height of 1.76m, which record still stands. She also holds a W50 world record of 1.50m, set in 2004.

Richard Graves, who passed away in February of this year, served for twenty years on the Executive of the Canadian Masters Athletic Association, the predecessor to the CMA, from 1985 to 2005. He served twelve years as the CMAA Membership Secretary, during a period when computers were not used, and the process involved considerable manual work. He also served for eight years as the Vice-President, Non-Stadia.
Richard competed in two WMA Championships, and in countless Canadian Masters Championships. He also competed in many Road Races, including running dozens of them as a means of raising large amounts of funds for a charity.

Presentation of Awards

The Athlete of the Year and the Hall of Fame awards will be presented at an awards event to be held in conjunction with the CMA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, on Saturday, August 13, 2016 in Toronto.
Additionally, the recipients or their representatives will be invited to receive their awards at the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame Gala and Annual Awards Celebration, being held on Wednesday, July 6, at the Delta Edmonton South, Edmonton, or at another suitable occasion chosen by the each of the winners.