Bob Moffatt |
Bob Moffatt |
Bob Moffatt |
Bob Moffatt |
A native Victorian, Bob Moffatt was inspired by many of the early Hall of Fame inductees to become involved in sports. He excelled at soccer and was named a BC All-Star as a member of the winning Provincial Championship team, the Oak Bay Optimists. However, sometimes it pays to listen to your mother who suggested he stick with tennis. By the age of 12, he had won his first tournament and fallen in love with a sport that would consume him for close to five decades. His second home became the Victoria Lawn Tennis Club where he could be found hitting the ball from dawn to dusk.
By the age of 15, Bob was the BC Junior Champion, won the U16 Canadian Championship and made it to the final of the U18. Later, he played for the national team, competing internationally before moving into coaching and sport administration.
He became the first Executive Director of Tennis BC (1983-1985); was Tournament Director of the 1987 Federation Cup (Women’s World Team Championship) and then became the President and CEO of the BC Games Society. These experiences led to his appointment as President and CEO of Tennis Canada in 1988. Not only did he play a key role in the transformation of the Rogers Cup (Canadian Open Tennis Championships) into one of the world’s premier tennis events, but he also led an outstanding team in the development of world-class training and tournament facilities in Montreal (Stade Uniprix) and Toronto (Rexall Centre). It was due to Bob’s leadership that Tennis Canada was able to invest major resources into developing the sport of tennis across the country.
After 16 years at Tennis Canada, Bob retired and moved back to Victoria where he offered his expertise by consulting for PacificSport Victoria, primarily working on the new 80,000 square foot sporting facility on the Camosun College (Interurban) Campus – the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE). In 2008, Bob became PISE’s first General Manager/Acting CEO, setting up its administrative structure and programs and guiding the new facility to financial stability over two years, until his departure in 2010. PISE has rapidly grown to be nationally recognized as a hub for high-performance sport training, sport education, research and innovation and community programming.
Bob still consults, providing strategic advice and guidance for charities, not-for-profit associations and provincial and national sport organizations. His volunteer work has included member of the Canadian Olympic Committee; member of the Rules Committee for the International Tennis Federation and President of the Sport for All Canada Society.
He was instrumental in laying the ground work for the future development of high performance and community sport in Victoria. An innovative builder, he has contributed to the enhancement of community life and been a valuable inspiration and mentor to many professionals and leaders. Those who have had the good fortune to work alongside Bob will continue his commitment to build a better environment for sport in Victoria and beyond.
SPONSORED BY PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR SPORT EXCELLENCE
Wes Byrnell taping up a player |
Wes Byrnell is a name synonymous with sports therapy, not only in Victoria but also across the country. He was never afraid to try new ideas and was among the best in the business. He became a recreation instructor in the Canadian military and in 1974 transferred to Royal Roads Military College as its new physical education and recreation instructor. What a stroke of luck for Victoria sporting teams to have his talent and expertise in their dressing rooms. Wes became heavily involved as trainer with the McDonalds junior lacrosse team, Cougars major-junior hockey team, Shamrocks Lacrosse and London Boxing Clubs. He also worked with local recreation centres. Wes was chosen as the trainer for the Canadian national soccer team competing in the 1975 Pan-American Games in Mexico City and for the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. He declined the latter because of family commitments but came back with the national side in the 1980s for some exciting World Cup and Olympic qualifying matches.
