Growing up in Saskatchewan, Gerry played a variety of sports but had never heard of squash. It was during his post-doctoral studies in England that he discovered the game and was hooked.

Returning to Canada, he continued to play and also began officiating, taking his first refereeing course in 1975. He became a certified official in 1979 and a national referee in 1983. Embracing the teaching/mentoring side as well, Gerry became a course instructor in 1982 and a National Examiner in 1988.

Gerry first refereed internationally at the World Junior Men’s Championships in1984 and went on to become a World Squash Federation International Referee for 12 years. During that time he officiated multiple times at the Pan American Games, Women’s Worlds, YMG Classic, World Junior Men’s, Men’s Worlds and World Masters Games. He also officiated at the World Junior Women’s, European Teams, and the Tournament of Champions in New York. During these years, he was assigned to three World finals.

Gerry also became involved in organization and administration at the local, provincial and national levels. Although he retired from officiating in 2017, he continues today as a National Instructor and National Examiner.

Over the years, Gerry played tournaments, leagues, ladders and just for the fun of it, with many folk contributing to his development as a player. He particularly credits Stuart Dixon - Squash Pro, club owner, outstanding coach and player - with whom he had many sessions on and off court, both playing and learning about all other aspects of the game.

Gerry made his first appearance in the Canadian Championships in 1978, and has played in every championships since (except when abroad on study leave from his position as Professor in the University of Victoria Faculty of Chemistry Faculty). It was retirement that gave Gerry the time to play more and - more importantly - get fitter, an absolute requirement for top level play.

Gerry has played in most biannual World Masters Squash Championships since 1994 and all quadrennial World Masters Games since 2001. He added the US Championships in 2009, winning Gold in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. In 2015, he won Gold in the European Masters competition and also played his first British Open, winning the Bronze. Over the past three decades, Gerry has won 19 national and international Gold medals, along with 12 Silver and 9 Bronze.

In 2000, Squash BC recognized Gerry with the Jack Larson Trophy for all-round contribution to squash in BC and has since twice recognized his achievements with the Ernie Rogers Bowl for the best record in national and international competition (2011, 2013). Gerry was a finalist for the 2014 Sport BC Master Athlete of the Year award and was listed as one of the “100 contributors to the game of squash in Canada” in the program of the 2015 Squash Canada Centennial Dinner. Still, the reward he treasures most is the joy of playing and the camaraderie of a wonderful community of fellow enthusiasts.

Hailed as Canada’s greatest 800-metre runner, Gary Reed has led an exciting life in athletics!

Born in Texas, Gary lived there for only a short time before moving to Canada with his mother, Mary, and sister, Nicole. Their family journey took them to Haida Gwaii for five years, Vernon for five more years, then Logan Lake for six months and on to Merritt where Gary attended school for grades 5- 11. Gary completed grade 12 in Kamloops, which is where he loved to run track, having been a member of the Kamloops Track and Field Club (KTFC) since the age of 14.

Gary was originally coached by KTFC head coach Derek Evely and took an interest in long jump, triple jump, sprints, and distance running. He tried decathlon in Grade 12, winning the BC High School Championships and going on to place second at the Canadian National Junior Championships and fourth at the Pan American Juniors in the decathlon. The following year, Gary focused solely on the 400m distance before winning the Canadian National Junior Championships in 2000. In 2001 he made his first Senior National Team as a 4x400m relay member.

At the age of 20, Gary changed events once again from the 400m to 800m. In 2002, Gary moved to Victoria after connecting with National Training Centre Head Coach Wynn Gmitroski and Brent Fougner, who led the then-PacificSport Training Centre. The move would have been impossible without the financial backing of PacificSport, the athlete housing program and the truly excellent leadership and coaching provided by Wynn.

Under Wynn’s guidance and with the support of the sporting community in Victoria, Gary's career reached new heights at this difficult distance that demanded so much in both speed and endurance. The many years of hard work and support culminated in Gary triumphantly bringing home the Silver medal in the 800m from the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

At just 29 years of age, Gary retired from athletics in 2010 as the 800m Canadian record holder and a seven-time Canadian champion (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009). He represented Canada at two Olympic Games (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008), six World Championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009) and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Gary’s best performances included his Silver medal at the 2007 World Championships and a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Gary, his wife Caitlin of 12 years and their two daughters, Anna and Sophie, are currently living in Kamloops, BC where Gary now works as a Real Estate Developer. Gary credits his wife, in-laws Cathy and Frank Quinn, his mother and sister and his past coaches and supporters for their positive energy and love over the years that underpinned his remarkable achievements on the track.