George Jones Q.C. was well known in both athletic and legal circles. His resume was lengthy and legendary and included appearances and successes at virtually every court level, fundraising, coaching, refereeing in many sports and at many levels.
George was born in Victoria. His father was an admiral and knew the value of discipline and hence George was sent to Brentwood College School at that time located in Mill Bay, he spent 1 year at Brentwood, the rest at Lakefield in Ontario.
From there George attended law school at UBC and married early and had 5 children.
Graduation was achieved and a short career with Revenue Canada followed. Either or both Revenue Canada or George came to their senses and George then spent the next 50 years defending individuals in Tax Court and bailing out rugby players from various situations and occasionally and sporadically billing clients strictly on Robin Hood principles. Two more children followed together with countless loyal and loving friends. George’s roast in 2012 was attended by 300 people at the Empress and raised 50,000 for the George Jones scholarship.
One of George’s most ardent passions was for the sport of rugby and he was a co-founder and first director of the Canadian Rugby Foundation .
Francis Frank Deacy
Deacy, Browne, Parfrey Fund
Francis “Frank” Deacy (b. Galway, Ireland — d. November 9 2008) was a foundational figure in rugby development in Newfoundland and Labrador. He arrived in the province in 1971 and soon co-founded the first Newfoundland & Labrador provincial rugby team which competed in the Montreal 7s and in national 15-a-side championships.
As a player he had earlier significant experience in Ireland, and in Newfoundland he played, refereed, coached and administered the game — notably founding the Baymen’s Rugby Club, helping establish women’s rugby locally, and contributing at provincial and national union levels.
He passed away on Sunday, November 9 2008, at the age of 63.
Francis “Frank” John Deacy (b. May 25, 1945 – d. November 9, 2008) was a key builder of rugby in Newfoundland & Labrador. He was born in Galway, Ireland, and moved to Newfoundland in 1971, where he co-founded the first provincial team of Newfoundland & Labrador. He played as a scrum-half in Ireland and continued his involvement in Canada by playing, coaching, refereeing, and administering rugby. Among his achievements, he founded the Baymen’s Rugby Club, launched women’s rugby locally, helped establish the high-school inter-city league for girls and boys, and was a founding member of the Newfoundland & Labrador Rugby Union. Following his passing at age 63, the Canadian Rugby Foundation (CRF) established the “Deacy, Browne, Parfrey Fund” in his honour.
Dr. John Jones
John Jones Memorial Award Fund
Dr. John (John-Anthony) Jones (1941–2010) was a teacher, coach and community rugby builder in the Montreal / Quebec rugby scene whose memory has been institutionalized through scholarships and events.
After a long career in education and rugby in the Montreal area, he became the namesake for the John Jones Memorial Education Fund (established 2010) which provides bursaries toward post-secondary education for rugby players in Quebec and signals the esteem in which he was held locally. Dr. John-Anthony Jones passed in 2010; local rugby organizations subsequently organized the John Jones Montreal Sevens and related fundraising efforts to benefit the scholarship fund bearing his name. The memorial scholarship, event pages and obituaries together portray Jones as a mentor who combined an academic career with decades of volunteer work, coaching and club support that left a lasting legacy in Quebec rugby pathways.
Patrick Pat Aldous
Patrick Alan “Pat” Aldous (March 12, 1943 – February 14, 2023) was a prominent Canadian player, administrator and long-time champion of rugby. Born in North Vancouver, Aldous played club rugby (notably for the Kats RFC and regional BC sides) and captained Canada in matches during the early 1970s. He transitioned into governance and senior leadership, serving as a Rugby Canada Board member, Vice-Chair and Chair, and as Canada’s representative on multi-sport bodies including the Canadian Olympic Committee for rugby matters.
During his tenure, Aldous actively supported the growth of both the fifteens and sevens programs and helped develop infrastructure and high-performance programming (including ongoing involvement with the Canada Sevens). Rugby Canada and local obituaries emphasize Aldous’s business acumen, global support for Canadian teams (he often traveled to support Canada’s sides), and his role in bringing administrative professionalism to the sport in Canada. He passed away in February 2023; Rugby Canada’s tribute and funeral notices summarize a life devoted to elevating the game in Canada at club, provincial and national levels.
Donald 'Don' Whidden
Don Whidden Memorial Match Officials Fund
Donald “Don” Maclean Whidden (August 13, 1941 – February 3, 2014) was a volunteer leader, team manager and match-officials supporter whose work is memorialized in Canadian rugby circles. Obituaries (family notices) record Whidden’s passing in February 2014. Whidden served in a variety of operational roles for Canadian sides — he managed national team tours, worked with age-grade programs (including the U-23 Pacific Pride), and was active as a referee coach, citing commissioner and advocate for match officials’ development.
In recognition of his longstanding service, the Canadian Rugby Foundation (CRF) established the Don Whidden Memorial Match Officials Fund to support refereeing and match-officials development across Canada. Local rugby unions (Alberta) and CRF materials remember Whidden as a practical, hands-on administrator and mentor who cared about the everyday functions that let teams travel and perform.
Judy Seddon
Judy Seddon Memorial Award
Judy Seddon (dates in public notices: 1946–2019) is remembered by the Alberta rugby community as a tireless volunteer, mentor and supporter for over 35 years. Local rugby union posts and the Canadian Rugby Foundation document her decades of service and note a scholarship/award in her name — the Judy Seddon Memorial Scholarship — that recognizes her advocacy for players, families and community engagement. Social posts from provincial unions and local funeral/legacy notices emphasize Seddon’s role as a “rugby mom,” mentor and organizer who helped coordinate teams, fundraise and sustain club culture across generations. While there is less national press coverage compared with some national administrators, the combination of provincial rugby posts, CRF scholarship pages and legacy notices paints a consistent portrait of a community volunteer whose impact was felt at club and provincial levels.
David Burnett
David Burnett Memorial Scholarship Fund
David Burnett was born in Gloucester, England and emigrated to Canada in the early 1970s, settling in Montreal where he played for the Town of Mount Royal Rugby Club and earned Canada East honours as a tenacious scrumhalf. After moving to Ontario, David played and coached across the province, most notably with the Burlington Centaurs, whom he led to Senior A promotion in 1989, and with the Niagara Rugby Union, where he began a long representative coaching career.
Beyond the pitch, David served as President of the Centaurs, chaired the Niagara Thunder, and later became President of the Rugby Canada Super League. He remained deeply committed to elite and junior rugby in the Niagara region, managing provincial and national-level teams and serving as Secretary of the Eastern Canada Junior Rugby Championship until his passing in 2011.
David also devoted over 20 years as a referee, supported high school rugby across Halton and Niagara, and coached at Waterdown District High School. Inducted into the Rugby Ontario Hall of Fame in 2013, David’s enduring legacy lies not in his résumé, but in the players, coaches, and administrators he mentored and inspired to grow the game.
Kevin ‘Lunk’ Wirachowski
Kevin ‘Lunk’ Wirachowski Award Fund
Kevin “Lunk” Wirachowski is honoured for his longstanding commitment to rugby in Canada, remembered through the Kevin ‘Lunk’ Wirachowski Award Fund established to recognize and support players who embody passion, perseverance, and leadership in the sport. His dedication helped inspire a generation of athletes and volunteers whose service strengthened rugby at the grassroots and university levels.
Throughout his involvement in the rugby community, Kevin was known for fostering team spirit, mentoring younger players, and advocating for the values that make rugby a lifelong pursuit. His influence stretched beyond the pitch into club culture, where his energy and encouragement helped clubs thrive across British Columbia and beyond.
The award in his name continues to highlight emerging rugby talent and leadership, ensuring Kevin’s spirit of commitment and camaraderie lives on through the players and volunteers who receive it each year.
Marina and Howard Gerwing
Howard and Marina Gerwing Award Fund
Marina and Howard Gerwing are celebrated for their generous and sustained support of rugby in Canada, honoured through the Marina and Howard Gerwing Award Fund managed by the Canadian Rugby Foundation. This Fund recognizes student–athletes who demonstrate excellence on and off the field, reflecting Marina and Howard’s belief in rugby as a vehicle for personal development and community contribution.
Their leadership extended to championing opportunities for young players to pursue higher education while continuing in rugby, supporting initiatives that bridge academic achievement with athletic pursuit. Through mentorship and philanthropy, they encouraged players to strive for excellence in every aspect of life.
The Gerwing Award Fund continues to honour exceptional players who carry forward Marina and Howard’s values of integrity, community service, and athletic dedication.
Gerald McGavin
Gerald McGavin Coaching Award Fund
Gerald McGavin is recognised for his significant contribution to the coaching community in Canadian rugby, honoured through the Gerald McGavin Coaching Award managed by the BC Rugby Union and supported by the Canadian Rugby Foundation. This award celebrates coaches whose leadership, teaching, and mentorship have made lasting impacts on players and programs throughout British Columbia and Canada.
Gerald’s influence was marked by his unwavering belief in the power of coaching to shape athlete character, performance, and lifelong engagement with the sport. His dedication to coach development helped raise standards across club, university, and community levels.
The coaching award in his honour continues to recognize outstanding coaches who carry forward Gerald’s passion for mentorship, strategic insight, and support of rugby’s grassroots growth.
Lt. Colonel W.D.C. Holmes
Lt. Colonel W.D.C. Holmes University Awards (For the Love of the Game Fund)
Lt. Colonel W.D.C. Holmes is remembered for his exceptional service to Canadian rugby, reflected through the award fund that bears his name — originally the Lt. Colonel W.D.C. Holmes University Awards Fund (now part of the For the Love of the Game Fund). This award supported student–athletes who demonstrated not only athletic ability but also leadership and dedication to the sport alongside their academic pursuits.
Holmes’ contributions extended beyond competition; he believed fervently in developing the next generation of rugby leaders through education and participation, encouraging athletes to balance sport with scholarship and community service.
His legacy endures in the ongoing support for university rugby and the recognition of student–athletes who excel both on the field and in academic life.
Nick Mathers, Jack Patrick, Tillman Briggs
Jack Patrick & Nick Mathers & Tillman Briggs Family Awards Fund (James Bay Athletic Association)
Nick Mathers, Jack Patrick and Tillman Briggs are honoured through the Jack Patrick, Nick Mathers & Tillman Briggs Family Awards Fund, which celebrates rugby players who demonstrate distinction in competition, leadership, and community contribution.
This fund reflects Nick’s deep involvement in supporting rugby’s development and the importance he placed on character as well as athletic excellence. Nick’s passion for rugby was evident in his support for player pathways and the broader rugby community, helping to provide meaningful recognition and support for athletes as they progressed through school, club, and university rugby.
Jack Patrick’s legacy is tied to supporting players who embody the spirit and values of Canadian rugby. A committed supporter of rugby’s growth, Jack encouraged athlete development and fostered opportunities for young players to excel across multiple dimensions of their lives — from competition to leadership and service.
The award supports athletes who reflect Tillman’s values of hard work, leadership, and dedication. Tillman’s involvement in rugby exemplified the belief that sport can be a powerful force for personal development and community connection, with his support helping to widen opportunities for young players.
The family award fund continues to uphold the values they championed — leadership, sportsmanship, and contribution both on and off the field.
