Behind most successful athletic ventures or individual sporting achievements, one generally finds an energetic, conscientious, and reliable organizer, someone who unselfishly commits hours of quiet work to support these efforts. Perhaps there is no finer example of that in our City than Mr. Michael Moir.
In 1957, Mike founded the Mohawk Canoe Club. He was an avid member as well. In the mid-1980s the City decided to develop the Burlington Waterfront. The break wall was removed and Spencer Smith Park emerged. As a result, in 1989, the Mohawk Canoe Club merged its’ programs with the Oakville Canoe Club to become the Burloak Canoe Club. Again, Mike was at the forefront of this initiative.
During his years at Mohawk and the Burloak Clubs, Mike administered, organized, competed, coached, and did a lot of what is generally termed ‘grunt work’. He received numerous awards and honors in the clubs but was also recognized for his invaluable contributions to the provincial and national canoe and kayaking programs. Most notably, in 1975, he was elected to fill the role of Commodore of CanoeKayak Canada(CKC), the youngest person to hold that position up to that time.
Mike also took up officiating while at the Mohawk Canoe Club and in 1975 he was accredited as an International Canoe Federation official. His reputation for industry, integrity, and reliability was widely recognized, so much so that Mike became the first chair of the CKC National Officials Committee. This amazing volunteer was recognized by the CKC with a special volunteer award in 1987.
Since being accredited in the early ’70s, Mike has been appointed to serve as a technical official at numerous CKC national championships. In this role, he spends countless hours each summer at provincial and national events mentoring and coaching upcoming officials. The list of events he has officiated is remarkable and includes six pre-Olympic and Olympic events, 15 World Championships, three Pan-American Games, one University Games, one Canada Summer Games, and, most recently, an official starter for the sprint canoe/kayak events at the London 2012 Sumer Olympics.
In addition to paddling, Mike made an exceptional contribution to hockey in Burlington. His son Andrew was an avid hockey player so Mike volunteered as an assistant coach for the City Rep Tri-County Atom team for three years. He was head coach from 1981-83. When Andrew moved to AAA Bantam, Mike helped raise funds to send the team to Sweden and Russia. When Andrew made the Junior B Burlington Cougars, Mike became the game statistician, then a Board member, then President in 1990 until 2000 - and he now serves as Past-President and Bingo Chairman.
Mike has made an amazing commitment to youth and sport in Burlington through a volunteer career spanning 56 years. “Thank you Michael Moir and welcome to the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame”!