The Sail Canada President’s Award is a discretionary award, established in 2011, to recognize individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of sailing and who have brought recognition to Canadian sailing and Sail Canada.
This year Sail Canada is pleased to present this award to Mark Lammens & Tim Irwin.
To many, sailing is more than just a sport – it’s a lifestyle. A living embodiment of that motto is the man himself, Mark Lammens. Over the years, Mark has been involved in many aspects of the sport; as an athlete in the Finn and Soling, as Canadian Team Coach at big games, but also on home waters, and of course as a volunteer and administrator. He has gone above and beyond with the time, commitment, and passion he has put into the sailing community over the past 4 decades. Mark’s skills as an athlete, coach, and mentor are admirable. We wouldn’t be where we are without him.
If you’ve been to CORK, you’ve probably seen Tim Irwin, whether he was organizing volunteers, managing gear, helping at the launch ramp, out on the water, or just walking through the boat park. An Olympian, Tim has been involved in CORK for most of its 50 years, for many years serving as the Event Chair. Tim has been a key piece in the success of CORK – Sail Kingston over the years, helping thousands of sailors from all across the country, and around the world, discover a love for sailing and challenging themselves in Kingston’s famous thermal winds. The passion and commitment that Tim has brought to Sailing in Kingston are second to none, and Canada’s Freshwater Sailing Capital would not be what it is today without his years of hard work and dedication.
“Mark Lammens and Tim Irwin are both shining examples of Canadians who have dedicated their lives to the sport of sailing! After competing internationally in their respective classes for many years, both Mark and Tim have continued to build their legacies by tirelessly contributing to many other aspects of our sport through their leadership with Sail Saskatchewan (for Mark) and with CORK (for Tim), as well as countless community and club-level accomplishments.
Congratulations Mark, and Tim, an honour each of you so well deserves!” – Hugh McGugan, Sail Canada Chair
Congratulations to both Mark Lammens and Tim Irwin for receiving Sail Canada’s President’s Award!
