Minister Copps Appoints two Honorary Ambassadors to Support Hamilton's Bid to Host the 2010 Commonwealth Games
OTTAWA, January 14, 2003 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced the appointments of Lincoln Alexander and Roy McMurtry as honorary ambassadors in support of Hamilton's bid to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games."From day one, support in Hamilton for Canada's 2010 Commonwealth Games Bid has been incredible. I know that the hard work and dedication of countless volunteers and community leaders is what will put Hamilton's bid over the top," said Minister Copps. "I'm delighted that Mr. Alexander and Mr. McMurtry have accepted to volunteer their time and expertise to help advance this Bid."
The honourary ambassadors will help raise the visibility of Canada's 2010 Commonwealth Games Bid. They will also provide important strategic advice as the Bid process unfolds.
Mr. Alexander served as Member of Parliament from 1968 to 1980. He was Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991. He has served as Chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Board of Directors since 1996. Lincoln Alexander is currently Chancellor of the University of Guelph.
Mr. McMurtry served as Canada's High Commissioner to Britain from 1985 to 1988. He was Chair and CEO of the Canadian Football League from December 1988 to April 1991. On January 1, 2002, he retired as Chair of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Committee on Cooperation through Sport. He is the honourary president of Commonwealth Games Canada. Mr. McMurtry is also the Chief Justice of Ontario, a position he has held since 1996.
"Hosting major sport events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games is important to developing capacity in the Canadian sport system and is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to support athletes in their pursuit of excellence," said Minister Copps. "That's why I'm happy that we have two high-profile ambassadors helping lead the charge for Canada's 2010 Commonwealth Games Bid."
Commonwealth Games Canada announced on December 16, 2002 that Hamilton would be the Canadian city to bid to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The deadline to submit the Bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation, the international body overseeing the Commonwealth Games, is May 13, 2003. The Host City will be selected at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly meeting, which will take place in Jamaica from November 11 to 14, 2003.
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
- BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES -
LINCOLN ALEXANDER
Mr. Alexander is a graduate of McMaster University and Osgoode Hall Law School.
Member of Parliament from 1968 to 1980, he was sworn into the Privy Council and appointed Minister of Labour in 1979. He resigned from the House of Commons in 1980, and was then appointed Chair of the Workers' Compensation Board of Ontario.
A Companion of the Order of Canada and a Member of the Order of Ontario, the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander served as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991.
Mr. Alexander has received many awards and honours, including seven honorary doctorates, the 1982 Man of the Year Award by the Ethnic Press Council of Canada, and the 1984 Caribana Cultural Achievement Award. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 1945.
Lincoln Alexander is currently Chancellor of the University of Guelph. He has been Chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation's Board of Directors since 1996.
R. ROY McMURTRY
Roy McMurty was educated at St. Andrew's College, Aurora, and Trinity College at the University of Toronto, and received an Honours Degree in History. Mr. McMurtry took his law degree at Osgoode Hall and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1958. He practised as a trial lawyer for seventeen years in the firm of Benson, McMurtry, Percival and Brown before being elected to the Ontario Legislature, in 1975.
Immediately after the 1975 election, Mr. McMurtry was appointed Attorney-General of the Cabinet of Premier William G. Davis, a post which he held until 1985. From 1978 to 1982, he held the additional portfolio of Solicitor-General.
As Attorney-General Mr. McMurtry was responsible for overseeing the administration of justice in Ontario, including criminal prosecutions, civil litigation involving the government, and law reform. In the area of law reform, Mr. McMurtry was responsible for introducing and passing more than fifty provincial statutes, and for creating a bilingual judicial system.
As Attorney-General, Mr. McMurtry argued major constitutional cases in the Supreme Court of Canada, including the landmark case of 1981 that led to the new Canadian Constitution. He also played a key role in the negotiations that led to the Federal/Provincial Accord of November 1981 and the proclamation of Canada's new Constitution in April of 1982.
Roy McMurtry left the office of Attorney-General to accept the post of Canada's High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Britain, which he held from 1985 to 1988.
Mr. McMurtry served as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Football League from December of 1988 to April 1991.
Mr. McMurtry was appointed Chief Justice of Ontario on February 20, 1996, after having previously been appointed the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice on February 3, 1994, and Associate Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice on March 22, 1991.
On January 1, 2002, he retired as Chair of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Committee on Co-operation through Sport, which is responsible for pursuing initiatives to strengthen the Commonwealth Games in particular and Commonwealth sport in general, particularly at the grass roots level. He is currently the Honorary President of the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada.
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