Eighteen individuals with ties to the Université de Montréal will be honored on November 19 at the 40th Gala Podium Montréal, UdeMnouvelles reported.
The Conseil du sport de Montréal selected the group as part of a special cohort of 51 figures marking the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games. The honnores include athletes, builders, and coaches who shaped Montreal sports over the last half-century.
Several honorees left their mark directly on university athletics through leadership roles with the Montreal Carabins and campus facilities. Manon Simard, a political science graduate who serves as director general of the CEPSUM and the Carabins, is among those selected.
Danièle Sauvageau, a social work graduate and co-founder of the Carabins women’s hockey program, joins her on the list alongside France St-Louis, who also collaborated with the hockey program. Football is represented by two former Carabins head coaches: Jacques Dussault, who led the team at its inception, and Danny Maciocia, who guided the program to its first Vanier Cup victory in 2014.
The roster extends well beyond campus athletic departments to include prominent international competitors and builders. Nathalie Lambert, a 1989 kinesiology graduate and quadruple Olympic medalist in speed skating, is joined by Nicolas Gill, a 1999 physical education graduate and double Olympic medalist in judo.
Olga Hrycak, a 1968 kinesiology graduate known as a pioneer of basketball in Quebec, will also be celebrated. Sylvie Fréchette, the double Olympic champion in synchronized swimming who studied physical education at the university, rounds out the prominent Olympians on the list.
Additional honorees include fencing figure Jean-Marc Chouinard, boxer and Olympic wrestling coach Victor Zilberman, and Walter Sieber, who contributed to major international sports events. Daniel Granger, a 1973 law graduate involved in the development of Special Olympics, and Marie-José Turcotte, a prominent sports journalist at Radio-Canada, complete the roster of distinguished alumni.
Richard Legendre, a former professional tennis player and associate professor at HEC Montréal teaching sports management since 2018, is also recognized. Three figures tied to physical activity training round out the university’s contingent.
Nicole MacDuff, a former physical education professor and founder of the Gymnix gymnastics club, shares the honor with Bernard Petiot, who taught physical education at the institution from 1980 to 1997. Raynald Hawkins, a lecturer and program coordinator at the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences known for drowning prevention work, is also included.
The 18 personalities will be celebrated at TAZ in Montreal during a special opening ceremony for the 40th Gala Podium Montréal.
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