Growing up in Victoria, Hugh was an all-round athlete. His interest in sport led to a position developing the sport travel industry for Canadian Airlines, where he became a founding member of the International Sports and Cultural Exchange Association and worked with many high-level events. Hugh returned to Victoria as Director of Marketing and Sponsor Services, 1994 Commonwealth Games. He later founded and was Executive Director of SportHost Victoria and served as Director on numerous local Boards, spearheading the region’s sport tourism initiative.

Highlights of Hugh’s sport tourism career include bringing the Canadian Track and Field Olympic Trials, Pan-Pacific Swimming Championships, World Curling Championships, U20 Soccer World Cup, and World Junior Hockey Championships to Greater Victoria.

Hugh’s career has had a huge impact locally. His commitments to sport, citizenship, and public service have been recognized many times, including the Kiwanis Club Citizenship Award, C-FAX Business Leadership and Sports Leader Awards, and appreciation awards from national and provincial sport organizations such as the Canadian Sports Federation. In early 2018, Hugh was honoured as a Tourism Victoria Life Member.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR SPORT EXCELLENCE

Deb was introduced to field hockey in elementary school and began playing goal at Oak Bay High. In her five years at UVic, Deb back-stopped the Vikettes to two CIAU National Championships and four Canada West titles, giving up just three goals throughout their entire 1989 undefeated championship season. Deb joined the Junior National squad in 1987 and Captained the Senior National team from 1993 to 1995. She played in two World Cups and the 1991 (Silver) and 1995 (Bronze) Pan American Games. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Deb helped Canada achieve a seventh-place finish.

Retiring from play in 1996, Deb continued to coach. She was Assistant Coach for the 1995 UVic National Championship team and the Canadian National team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and 1999 Pan American Games. Today, Deb stays connected to field hockey as a co-coach with her daughter's Under 15 team. She is also a member of the PISE Board of Directors and Athlete Representative for the Canadian National Women’s Field Hockey team.
SPONSORED BY UVIC VIKES