Ottawa, ON—Lacrosse Canada is proud to announce that the 2022 Lester B. Pearson Award recipient is Barb Boyes. This award is presented annually to a member of the Canadian lacrosse community in recognition of outstanding contributions of sportsmanship and leadership in the game of lacrosse, and to the physical and mental development of young Canadians through unselfish dedication as a volunteer.
Boyes’ involvement in lacrosse stretches cross-country, where she has notably been a driving force in women’s field lacrosse for more than 35 years.
She was a member of the inaugural women’s field national team, which captured a bronze medal in the first Women’s Field World Championship in 1982. From there, she spent a decade coaching Team Ontario, and several years in various coaching roles with the senior women’s national team.
In addition to her success as a player and coach, Boyes has been instrumental in the development of the sport throughout high schools in Durham and the creation of the Oshawa Lady Blue Knights field lacrosse club. Boyes began her physical education teaching career in 1985, and helped to create the high school league that is now sanctioned by the Lake Ontario Secondary Schools Athletics (LOSSA).
Her unique high school women’s lacrosse program, meant to engage as many students as possible, regardless of their skills and experience, has been replicated in other schools across the province.
The Blue Knights program began in 2000 as a three-team house league, and is now the largest women’s field lacrosse program in the country, with over 400 players, numerous house league teams, and successful rep programs at every age division.
Boyes takes great pride in the opportunities these programs have provided for athletes to play beyond their club teams, with countless athletes going on to play in the OUA, NCAA, on provincial teams, and on the U-19 and Senior Women’s National Team.
Beyond this, she has served as a high school Convenor from 1991-1994 and 2007-2011, the OWFL Director of Development, and has been an NCCP Course Conductor for over 30 years.
“Barb is a very deserving recipient of the Lester B. Pearson Award,” said Marisa Di Bari, Lacrosse Canada’s Director of Marketing. “She has dedicated so much of her life to growing the game at both the grassroots and high-performance levels. She embodies the traits and characteristics that the Lester B. Pearson Award seeks to recognize, and we are delighted to show our gratitude for her contributions to lacrosse in Canada.”
This award will join Boyes’ other accolades: she was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, received the OWFL Roots of the Game Award, and was recognized by the International Federation of Women’s Field Lacrosse in 2007.
It is Lacrosse Canada’s honour to recognize Barb Boyes as the 2022 Lester B. Pearson Award winner.
Past winners of the Lester B. Pearson Award are:
2021 - Dean McLeod
2020 - Rusty Doxtdator
2019 - Cheryl MacNeill
2018 - Dave Huntley
2017 - Joey Harris
2015 - Terry Lloyd
2014 - Mike 'Kanentakeron' Mitchell
2013 - Don Blacklock
2011 - Stan Cockerton
2010 - John Herd
2008 - Stew Begg
2007 - Sohen Gill
2006 - Jim Burke
2005 - Chuck Miller
2004 - Jim Price
2002 - Joanne Stanga
2001 - Bill McBain
1983 - Joan Gostling
1981 - William Hutton
1980 - Ed Linstead
1979 - Frank Huntley
1978 - Jack Fulton
1977 - Jim Bishop
1975 - Ken Newton
1973 - Morley Kells
About Lacrosse Canada
Founded in 1867, Lacrosse Canada is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 10 Member Associations representing nearly 85,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Lacrosse Canada’s mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. Lacrosse Canada oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by World Lacrosse. Lacrosse Canada is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - NormaTec Recovery Systems, RockTape, OPRO, Canadian Red Cross, Westjet, and Baron Rings - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Taylor Retter
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Lacrosse Canada
Email: taylor@lacrosse.ca