Gene Turk Inducted into Wall of Fame at 2015 Squash Canada AGM
by Steve Wren


2015-06-09 - OTTAWA (ON) – Squash Canada’s 2014-2015 season culminated with a memorable Members' Centennial Dinner & Awards Ceremony during the Annual General Meeting in Ottawa last weekend. The highlight of the evening saw Gene Turk, Class of 2015-COACH from Winnipeg, Manitoba inducted into the Squash Canada Wall of Fame.

Turk, a former highly accomplished National team athlete, began his coaching career in 1982 and served as one of Canada’s longest serving Senior Men’s National Team coach for an impressive 17 years. Gene’s illustrious coaching career includes such historic achievements as Gold Medals in both the Men and Women’s team and individual events at squash’s inaugural appearance in the 1995 Pan Am Games and again in 1999, Canada’s best ever 2nd place finish at the Men’s World Team Championship in 1997, 4th in 2005, and as well as the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester England where Jonathan Power took the gold.  Gene is a Certified N.C.C.P. Level 4 coach and has mentored great athletes as Trevor Borland, Josh Struthers, Justin Todd and Thomas Brinkman.

Squash in Manitoba and Canada, would not be where it is today without the tremendous contribution Gene has made to this sport. Gene has created a squash stronghold across Canada through coaching, volunteerism and as an athlete by displaying unbelievable talent, superior communication skills, un-paralleled work ethic and for being the true person he is.

The AGM weekend started with an intense Squash Canada board and staff strategic planning session facilitated by Tammy Sweeney of Learn2. The next day the membership was treated to an inspiring presentation by Myles Spencer, COO of Rugby Canada, on their transformation into an Olympic sport. Squash Canada's VP-Technical Patrick Ryding delivered an excellent update on Coaches of Canada and Tournament Software plus introduced some innovative competitive structure options for future events. Jeff Deverill’s, the owner of Barrie Athletic Club, ON, presentation on the “Voice of the Club Owner” became an excellent segue into the membership presentations of Steve Indig, Sport Law & Strategy Group and Scott Mundle, Squash Canada’s VP Finance. VP Operations John Roche presented Squash Canada’s first inclusive national Code of Conduct policy while Acting Executive Director Steve Wren shared Ottawa’s highly successful Junior-Prix Circuit program as a great tool in promoting the development of entry level players.

The AGM concluded with the re-election of incumbents Steve Wren of Gatineau, QC and  Gene Turk of Winnipeg, MB  who became Squash Canada’s first two new Directors-At- Large, while former appointed Andrew McDougall, Toronto, ON was unanimously supported by the Athlete Class (Squash Canada’s Senior National Team athletes) and elected the  Athlete Director. All three gentlemen will be serving a three year term and be joining the team of Lolly Gillen (President) of Toronto, ON, Scott Mundle (VP Finance) of Winnipeg, MB, John Roche (VP Operations) of Victoria, BC and Patrick Ryding (VP Technical) of Toronto, ON.

Squash Canada wishes to congratulate and sincerely thank retiring Athlete Representatives Stephanie Edmison and Robin Clarke for their unbelievable dedication to this role and welcomes the new Athlete Representatives Sam Cornett and Mike McCue to their three-year term.