Mike Nemesvary, Skiing

Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1961, Mike Nemesvary is one of the most successful freestyle skiers in the world and a pioneer in his sport.  Representing both Canada and Great Britain, during the 1970's and 80's he won three World Cups, eighteen World Cup Podiums, three European, eleven Canadian and five British Championships.  A trampoline accident in 1985 left him a high-level quadriplegic, but Nemesvary never gave up.  In 2001, he became the first quadriplegic to drive around the world - a six-month, 40,000 km, twenty country odyssey to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injury research and rehabilitation.  "If you look past the wheelchair, you'll see a life still full of goals and accomplishments"

Bob Rathwell, Builder

Born in Lachine, Quebec in 1929, Bob Rathwell has a lifelong commitment to community sports.  This involvement began as a youth with managing his high school soccer team and coaching Little League baseball.  Rathwell served two terms as an Executive member of Ottawa's RA Centre where he was instrumental in the creation of the Riverside Drive playing fields.  He also coached house league and competitive hockey for the Nepean Minor Hockey Association.  In 1970, Rathwell began his association with soccer;  he was the President of the Lynwood Minor Soccer Association before becoming involved at the district level.  Rathwell has served as Chairperson, Secretary and Statistician of the Ottawa-Carleton Soccer League as well as President and Secretary of the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association, beginning in 1985 and for eight years was the Director of the Ontario Soccer Association.  Rathwell used his knowledge as a computer systems analyst/consultant to develop a computerized sport record-keeping system for soccer.

Steve Yzerman, Hockey

Born in Cranbrook, British Columbia in 1965, Steve Yzerman grew up in the Ottawa area playing Junior A hockey for his hometown Nepean Raiders.  After one season, he was drafted by the Peterborough Petes where he played at centre from 1981 to 1983.  Selected in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings in 1983, Yzerman went on to star in the National Hockey League for over two decades.  During his career, he has won numerous NHL awards, including the Calder Trophy in 1984, the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1989, the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1998, the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2000 and the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy in 2003.  He has been a nine-time league all-star and lead the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998 and 2002 and played a significant role in Canada's Olympic Gold Medal in 2002.  He finished his career as the sixth all-time leading scorer in  NHL history with 762 goals and 1178 assists for 1940 total points.  Yzerman served as the Detroit Red Wings captain for twenty years and since his retirement in 2006, continues to act as their Vice-President of Hockey Operations.