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Award will probably be handed out yearly on the Unmatched: Gender Fairness in Sports activities convention
Carlota Lee obtained Tennis Canada’s inaugural Prix Jacqueline L. Boutet Award on Wednesday, August 9 on the Unmatched: Gender Fairness in Sports activities convention.
Named after the late Jacqueline Lemieux Boutet, the award will probably be handed out yearly on the convention to a person whose lifelong contributions in tennis helped make a significant and lasting impression on serving to make the game extra equitable, inclusive, and accessible in Canada, notably for girls and women.
“I’m extremely proud that Tennis Canada believes that my mom has made a distinction within the group. Making a distinction is one thing that all of us aspire to in a method or one other,” stated Mark Boutet, Jacqueline’s son, on the Unmatched convention. “Talking of creating a distinction, once I learn in regards to the recipient of this award, I may see my mom in so some ways.”
“I can guarantee you that my mom could be humbled to see that the one that has made such an distinctive contribution to the event of tennis in her neighborhood could be receiving an award bearing her title.”
Boutet served because the chair of Tennis Canada’s Board of Administrators from 1995 to 1998, turning into the primary lady to carry the place within the historical past of the group. As a member of the Board of Administrators, she performed a pivotal position in lobbying the federal government to boost the required funds to assist assemble the Tennis Centre in Jarry Park, identified immediately as IGA Stadium. It was beneath her management in 1996 that the brand new stadium got here to be, with a give attention to elevating the Canadian Open into the world-renowned event its referred to as immediately.
The recipient of the inaugural award, Carlota Lee, helped construct the Odlum Brown Vancouver Open into one of the vital prestigious challenger tournaments on the planet. Serving as event chair of the mixed ATP Challenger Tour and WTA 125 occasion, Lee has performed an important position in serving to many younger Canadian gamers, together with younger girls, jumpstart their professional careers.
Lee turned chair of the event in 2017 however was concerned with the occasion for practically twenty years prior. One in every of her largest accomplishments associated to rising the event is managing its housing program, which has develop into a signature of the occasion. By fostering relationships with over 50 households in West Vancouver, gamers may board with them whereas attending the event to keep away from having to pay resort prices and to get perks akin to receiving home-cooked meals and getting to absorb the pure great thing about Vancouver.
“I settle for this award with immense satisfaction and renewed dedication to creating an much more inclusive and accessible neighborhood to all Canadians,” stated Lee on the Unmatched convention.
“Collectively, let’s construct a legacy that can encourage generations to come back, simply as Jacqueline Boutet impressed us all.”
Past tennis, Lee can be a giant philanthropist alongside her husband, Derek. Since being identified with superior Parkinson’s in 2019, they’ve helped elevate over $500,000 by UBC’s Parkinson’s Analysis Institute. They’ve additionally raised practically $6,000,000 for the Centre of Childhood Research at Capilano College.
“I couldn’t consider a greater recipient for our inaugural Prix Jacqueline L. Boutet Award than Carlota Lee,” stated Eva Havaris, Tennis Canada’s Vice-President of Tennis Participation and Partnerships. “Carlota has spent a lifetime dedicating herself to rising the sport of tennis on the West coast and supporting the subsequent technology of feminine expertise inside Canadian tennis. She frequently evokes many people at Tennis Canada to boost the bar for girls and women and assist them of their endeavours to succeed in their full potential on and off the courtroom. Thanks for your whole contributions over time, Carlota.”
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