June 23, 2015, Charlottetown – A pair of Islanders were among the award winners named recently at Speed Skating Canada’s Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg. Gordon Rogers became the second Islander in four years to win the Jean R. Dupre Administrator of the Year Award from the national body, while Sarah Taylor was presented with one of Speed Skating Canada’s Coaches Awards of Excellence.
Gordon Rogers
The awards were handed out at Speed Skating Canada’s annual awards gala as part of the body’s annual awards to the country’s top international athletes as well as to its top coaches and officials.
Rogers, of Charlottetown, was recognized for his work as Speed Skate PEI’s treasurer for the past eight years. A member of Speed Skating Canada’s Finance and Audit Committee, Rogers was also cited for his contributions as a club registrar, ice scheduler, official and coach with the Island sport group. “This award comes as a complete surprise,” said Rogers. “There are many people doing great work for speed skating across the country and I’m humbled to be recognized in this way.” Glenn Holmes of Stratford earned the same national award in 2012.
Sarah Taylor
Sarah Taylor was recognized for her coaching work, including her head coach role and success with P.E.I.’s short-track team at the 2015 Canada Winter Games. Taylor’s passion for the sport and contributions to speed skating, including coaching many different groups and levels of skaters in P.E.I., Fredericton and in Calgary over the past dozen years were noted during the presentation. “I’m very honoured to be receiving this award and proud to be part of a great team that is doing great things to build speed skating on P.E.I.,” said Taylor.
Taylor became the third Island speed skating coach to be recognized on the national stage, as Phil Byrne received the same honour in 2011 and Sherry White was named Speed Skating Canada’s female coach of the year in 1998.
For the full list of award winners, visit www.speedskating.ca. For more information about Speed Skate PEI, visit www.speedskatepei.com.
