The John Cannon Memorial Award Fund was established in 2016 following John’s passing. The Fund’s purpose is to provide financial assistance to aspiring Abbotsford rugby players who wish to pursue representative rugby.
John Cannon, who was described as one of the best rugby players to have ever come out of Abbotsford, passed away on March 19, 2016, at the age of 35. John began playing rugby in high school, first playing rugby at WJ Mouat Secondary and then for Abbotsford Senior, from where he graduated in 1998. He first represented Canada on an Under-17 tour to England in 1996 at the age of 15, followed by the Canada U-19’s at age 17, and Pacific Pride at age 18. He earned his first Senior Men’s cap at age 20, and a total of 39 caps (31 at 15s and 8 at 7s.) He played 6 years in England in what is now the Championship League.
The first grant was awarded in 2017. Grants have been presented to:
2025 – Kamryn Howlett, Kodi Connolly
2024 – Alexis Dobson, Lanae Davenport, Aiden de Wit, Brady Howlett
2023 – Lucie Romeo, Lockhart MacGregor, Lana Dueck
2022 – Kaitlyn Meier, Jackie Kuang
2021 – Shalaya Valenzuela, James Thiel
2020 – Kyra Peary
2019 – Noah Bain, Josh Thiel
2018 – Mackenzie Carson, Jake Thiel
2017 – Tausani Levale
Application information, including cover page template and application form, are available here.
Further information, including the annual Memorial Touch tournament, can be found through the Abbotsford Rugby Club
Cheques to support the John Cannon Memorial Fund can be made to the Canadian Rugby Foundation and addressed to:
Canadian Rugby Foundation
709 Yates St.
PO Box 8003
Victoria, BC
V8W 3R7
OR
USE THE FORM BELOW TO DONATE TO THE JOHN CANNON MEMORIAL AWARD FUND:
