Twice golden Olympian and KPE graduate student Rosie MacLennan, the Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team, their coach Kristine Drakich, KPE alum Chris Rudge, and long time friend and sessional instructor at the Faculty Archie Allison were all inducted into the 2016 Toronto Sport Hall of Honour on April 5 at the Toronto Pan Am Sport Centre. The Toronto Sport Hall of Honour celebrates the exceptional contributions and accomplishments of those who have inspired and/or brought recognition to the City of Toronto through sport.
Rosie MacLennan was named the Athlete of the Year. MacLennan began competing internationally at eleven and was Canadian National Women’s Champion in 2005, 2009 and 2011.
In 2006, she paired with Karen Cockburn in synchronized trampoline. Beginning with the 2006 World Cup Finals in Birmingham, they dominated the event internationally, winning eight consecutive World Cup events.
At the 2007 World Championships in Quebec City, MacLennan earned a spot for Canada at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where she qualified for the finals, finishing in seventh place. MacLennan surpassed her Pan Am silver win of 2007 by reaching gold at the 2011 Games in Guadalajara. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she received a score of 57.305 for her final routine, achieving a new personal best and earning Canada’s only gold medal of the Games. She went on to successfully defend the gold at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. At Rio 2016, she defended the title once again, becoming the first trampolinist to win Olympic gold twice.
A recent graduate of the University of Toronto KPE program, she is currently continuing her studies towards a Master’s Degree in Exercise Sciences.
Varsity Blues women's volleyball were named the team of the year. The team had a perfect regular season in 2015 with a 19-0 record, dropping only three sets.
They went 2-0 to win their second straight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title. After defeating the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the OUA quarter-final actions, the Blues topped the McMaster Marauders and Ryerson Rams to win their 10th provincial championship. They went on to win 3-0 in their first U SPORTS championship since 1976, defeating McGill in the national quarter-finals and British Columbia-Okanagan in the semifinals to earn their first-ever U SPORTS final appearance. There, the Blues routed defending champions Trinity Western to claim the national title.
Alina Dormann was named the OUA East Rookie and Player of the Year, an OUA first team all-star and a member of the OUA all-rookie team. She went on to be named the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year, a member of the U SPORTS all-rookie team and a second team all-Canadian. Denise Wooding, Bojana Radan and Madelyn Mandryk earned OUA first team all-star honours, while Tessa Davis was named a second team all-star. Davis also earned OUA championship MVP honours, while Caleigh Cruickshank was named the national championship MVP.
Varsity Blues women’s volleyball head coach Kristine Drakich was named the coach of the year. Drakich is a former captain and all-Canadian with the Varsity Blues, as well as a member of Canada's national volleyball and beach volleyball teams. She is highly qualified through the National Coach Certification Program with a Level 4 certification for indoor volleyball and a Level 3 on the beach. She has been the head coach of the women's volleyball program at the University of Toronto since 1989. Under her direction, the Blues have qualified for 22 consecutive OUA final-four appearances, winning the OUA championship banner seven times. She led the Blues to a perfect season (25-0) in 2015-16, claiming their second straight OUA banner, and first U SPORTS national championship.
She has coached and volunteered at both the national and international level and was the Sport Organizing Chair for indoor volleyball at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. In addition to various coach of the year awards, Drakich’s accomplishments have been widely recognized and celebrated, including Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport Marion Lay "Herstorical" Breakthrough Award for her positive contributions to equity in sport from the local to the international level.
Archie Allison was awarded the Spirit of Sport Award for his contributions to inclusive recreation. Allison is described as a legendary figure at Toronto’s Variety Village, a centre that helps people with a disability develop a healthy lifestyle through sports, fitness and physical activity. He currently serves as the centre’s director of access and awareness and has been on staff since 1984. Over that time, it is estimated that Allison’s tireless efforts have helped more than 10,000 students, coaches and volunteers from schools and community groups experience the power of inclusion and the joy of physical activity.
Allison is also a coach, special event organizer and instructor at colleges and universities across Ontario, including the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education where he teaches a course called Adapted Physical Activity.
Archie's achievements and dedication have been recognized through numerous honours, including the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame (2011) and the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame (2017). He is an inaugural inductee of the Toronto Sport Hall of Honour, recognized for commitment to inclusion and his efforts in building the sport system for athletes with a disability.
Alumnus Chris Rudge was inducted as a builder for his profound impact on Toronto and Canada's sport landscape. He served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Canadian Olympic Committee leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. From 2008 to 2010, he was Chairman of the Steering Committee for the 'Own the Podium' program. He led this initiative supporting high performance athletes in winter sports which was integral to Canada's unprecedented Winter Games success of 14 gold medals.
Rudge went on to become Chairman and CEO of the 2012 Grey Cup Festival awarded to the City of Toronto, followed by Executive Chairman & CEO of the Toronto Argonauts. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Organizing Committee for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. In this role, Rudge furthered his commitment to ensuring Canadian athletes and coaches have access to world class training and competition facilities
Rudge holds a teaching certificate from Queen's University and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education from the University of Toronto. He is currently the Chairman of the Board for the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.