Join the Club

Join the CEC

Renew your Membership

Online Store

Subscribe to our eBulletin

Award Recipients for 2010

Complete Award Recipients listings

Annual Awards Process

ACC Award Recipients 2010

The following ACC Awards have been granted by the Club's Annual General Meeting in May 2011, Please acknowledge the following ACC Award recipients who have volunteered their time to serve their fellow Club members at either the national or section levels of the Club. The Awards are granted by the Club's Board of Directors.

Nominations for 2011 Awards (to be announced in May 2012) will be accepted until December 31, 2011
Award criteria and nomination forms

A. O. Wheeler Award - 1

David Dornian, Calgary

David has been volunteering as a national camp manager and GMC amateur leader for at least 15 years, possibly more. David's leadership style in the mountains is greatly appreciated by ACC participants and staff. He is relentless in promoting the Club and its activities to participants and potential participants.

In addition to his contributions as an amateur leader for National camps, David introduced sport climbing to the ACC back in the late 1980's. With great perseverance, David stuck with his vision, and the ACC is now the governing body for competition climbing in Canada through the Club's first non-geographic Section – the Competition Climbing Canada/ Competition D'Escalade Canada (CEC). David has represented Canada annually at international sport climbing meetings for about the last decade and has significantly increased the profile of Canada and the ACC internationally, particularly within the UIAA and the competitive climbing/skiing world and organizations. As a result of David's efforts, in concert with others on the international level, the ACC enjoys a particular position of influence internationally beyond its expected levels.

Moreover, within Canada, David's efforts on the competitive side have been of great assistance in bridging the apparent but unjustifiable gaps between organizations in Québec and the rest Canada.  In particular, a few years ago David was instrumental in assisting the ACC in coming to reasonable arrangements with ENEQ while ENEQ sought certification of its training programs within the UIAA.  In recent months, David has been instrumental in brokering arrangements between the ACC and FQME to ensure that all sport climbers, no matter which organization they belong to, have an equal and fair opportunity to participate in sport climbing and more particularly participate on the world stage.

David also introduced Ski Mountaineering competitions to Canada in 2002. Under the auspices of the ACC, David founded and continues to chair Ski Mountaineering Competition Canada (SMCC).

David received the Distinguished Service Award in 1992 and the Silver Rope for Leadership in 2003.

A surprised David Dornian accepting the A.O. Wheeler Award from ACC President Peter Muir at the Club's AGM on May 14, 2011.

Murray Levine - Montreal Section

Murray has been a Montreal Section member for 25 years and was the Chair for three years. He was instrumental with the retention of the Keene Farm during challenging times and was the Winter House coordinator for many years. Murray's "strong fund-raising abilities were directly responsible for establishing the resources needed to recognize and reward section leaders and other key volunteers."

Karen McGilvray - Toronto Section

Karen has served as the Section's treasurer for more than 12 years, and she worked hard to organize the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour screenings in Toronto on its behalf. As owner of one of the most popular climbing gyms in Toronto, she supports the Section through discount nights and free use of the gym for special occasions. "On a personal side, Karen is a very accomplished rock climber. She and her partner have completed an all female ascent of El Cap. Karen continues to inspire local climbers with her techical standards and achievements."

Cedric Zala - Vancouver Island Section

Cedric has been the Chair of the Vancouver Island Section for the past three years. He initiated and maintains the Section's monthly e-newsletter. He has been active in several access and environment issues on the Island, including the establishment of Mt. Arrowsmith Regional Park and the Protect our Parks initiative. "Cedric has brought energy, wisdom, ability and dedication to his role as Chair and has helped re-energize the section."

Honorary Membership - 0

Distinguished Service Awards - 0

Eric Brooks Leader Award - 0

Each year the Awards Committee reviews the award nominations and submits its recommendations to the Club's Board of Directors for approval. The current members of Awards Committee are:

André Mahé, Chair/président, section Saint-Boniface
Paul Geddes, Vancouver Section
Tom Haslam-Jones, Montréal Section
Dave McCormick, Saskatchewan Section
Rod Plasman, Rocky Mountain Section
Bill Scott, Ottawa Section