Ottawa, ON— The recipient of Lacrosse Canada’s 2021 Lester B. Pearson Award is Dean McLeod. This annual award is presented to a member of the Canadian lacrosse community in recognition of outstanding contributions of sportsmanship and leadership in the game of lacrosse and to the physical and mental development of young Canadians through unselfish dedication as a volunteer.
McLeod has a long list of involvement in the lacrosse community from grassroots to Team Canada. He has served his local club, the Brampton Excelsior Lacrosse Club, from 1968-2017 in many roles including statistician, general manager, and board member.
From 1989-2017, Dean served as an Ontario Junior A delegate on Lacrosse Canada’s Box Sector Committee. His 29 years in this position is only one of his many roles that demonstrates his commitment to the growth of lacrosse in Canada.
In 1988, McLeod was general manager for the Canadian Men’s U19 Field Lacrosse Team. He was instrumental in raising the $225,000 needed to send the team to Australia for the inaugural U19 World Championship. Team Canada proudly came home with a silver medal.
“Dean is a very deserving recipient of the Lester B. Pearson Award,” said Terry Rowland, Lacrosse Canada’s Director of Marketing. “He has dedicated most of his life to lacrosse at both the grassroots and high-performance levels. He embodies the traits and characteristics that the Lester B. Pearson Award seeks to recognize.”
This award will be added to McLeod’s already impressive collection of awards including the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Mr. Lacrosse Award (1985), Lacrosse Canada’s Presidents Award (1991), and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award (2012).
McLeod has a life membership from the Ontario Lacrosse Association. He was also inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1998) and the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1999) as a builder.
It is Lacrosse Canada’s honour to recognize Dean McLeod as the 2021 Lester B Pearson Award winner.
Past winners of the Lester B. Pearson Award are:
2020 - Rusty Doxtdator
2019 - Cheryl MacNeill
2018 - Dave Huntley
2017 - Joey Harris
2015 - Terry Lloyd
2014 - Mike 'Kanentakeron' Mitchell
2013 - Don Blacklock
2011 - Stan Cockerton
2010 - John Herd
2008 - Stew Begg
2007 - Sohen Gill
2006 - Jim Burke
2005 - Chuck Miller
2004 - Jim Price
2002 - Joanne Stanga
2001 - Bill McBain
1983 - Joan Gostling
1981 - William Hutton
1980 - Ed Linstead
1979 - Frank Huntley
1978 - Jack Fulton
1977 - Jim Bishop
1975 - Ken Newton
1973 - Morley Kells
About Lacrosse Canada
Founded in 1867, Lacrosse Canada is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 10 Member Associations representing nearly 85,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Lacrosse Canada’s mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. Lacrosse Canada oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by World Lacrosse. Lacrosse Canada is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - NormaTec Recovery Systems, RockTape, OPRO, Canadian Red Cross, Westjet, and Baron Rings - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Victoria Klassen
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Lacrosse Canada
Email: victoria@lacrosse.ca