What's new
JUST ANNOUNCED! Dick Pound will be the featured speaker at the Gold Medal Plates Montreal event.
Gold Medal Plates 2008
Ottawa - Wednesday October 15, Hilton Lac Leamy
Click Here for Details
Toronto - Thursday October 16, The Royal York
Click Here for Details
Montreal - Thursday October 23, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Click Here for Details
Vancouver - Wednesday November 5, Westin Bayshore
Click Here for Details
Edmonton - Thursday November 6, Shaw Conference Centre
Click Here for Details
Calgary - Thursday November 20, The Round Up Centre
Click Here for Details
Canadian Culinary Championships 2008
A WINNER IS CROWNED!
JUST ANNOUNCED!
Kelly Hrudey will emcee Calgary Gold Medal Plates 2007.
Kelly Hrudey - Biography
Analyst, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada
Kelly Hrudey returns for his ninth straight season as an analyst with CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA, working alongside host Scott Oake for the western broadcasts of the Saturday night doubleheaders. A popular and knowledgeable hockey commentator, Hrudey became a full-time hockey analyst with CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA during the 1998/99 NHL season, after providing stellar commentary during the previous four playoff seasons with host Ron MacLean.
During the 1999 NHL playoffs, Hrudey's segment Behind the Mask became a regular feature on CBC'S Hockey Night in Canada and currently airs during the first intermission of game two of the Saturday night doubleheaders. Hrudey, a former NHL goalie, also offers his intriguing insights and analysis during CBC'S Hockey Night in Canada post-game show After Hours.
In February 2006, Hrudey worked as an analyst for CBC's broadcast of Torino 2006 - The Olympic Games, marking his second Olympic broadcast experience.
Hrudey strapped on the pads with the Calgary Flames in the Fall of 2001 for Basic Training - a feature on the Flames training camp that aired as part of CBC'S Hockey Night in Canada pre-game show during the first five weeks of the regular season. It provided fans with a rare glimpse of what players, rookies and veterans alike experience en route to hopefully making an NHL squad.
During his 15-year NHL career as a goalie with the New York Islanders (six years), Los Angeles Kings (seven years) and San Jose Sharks (two years), the former Medicine Hat Tiger compiled a record of 271-265-88, with a goals against average of 3.43 and 16 shutouts.
Hrudey resides in Calgary with his wife and three daughters.
JUST ANNOUNCED!
Alexandre Despatie will be a featured speaker in Montreal.
Alexandre Despatie - Biography
McDonald's ambassador
Three-time world champion and Olympic medalist
In March 2007, Alexandre earned two silver medals at the FINA World Championships at the 3-metre and synchronized 3-metre events (with Arturo Miranda). Last year, Alexandre participated to the Commonwealth Games in Australia, where he won the 1-metre, 3-metre and the synchronized 3-metre events, in addition to a bronze medal at the 10-metre event. His performances of the last few years worth him the first International World Diver Award at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Awards.
At the FINA World Championships in Montreal in 2005, Alexandre Despatie earned gold medals in both 1-metre and 3-metre springboard, becoming the first diver in history to be world champion at all three diving events. His performance in 3-metre springboard earned him a total of 813.60 points, becoming the first diver to be awarded over 800 points in 3-metre. He became the world champion at 10-metre platform in July 2003 in Barcelona.
His second Olympic experience in Athens, Greece, earned him a silver medal in 3-metre springboard, making him the first Canadian in history to win a medal. In Sydney in 2000, he finished in fourth place in the 10 metre platform event. At 15, he was the youngest member of the Canadian contingent.
After earning a silver medal at the 2001 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he won three gold medals and one bronze at the Pan American Games held in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) in August, 2003.
When he was only 13 years old, Alexandre won the gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, making him the youngest gold medal winner ever in the history of the Games. This achievement earned Alexandre a spot in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records.
Alexandre recently broke a Canadian record by earning his 36th career national title. In the course of his career, he was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year four times at the Canadian Sports Awards, as well as being named three-time Male International Athlete of the Year at the Gala Sports-Québec (2003, 2004 and 2006). Alexandre also received the personality of the year title in the Sports and Leisure category of the Gala Excellence La Presse / Radio-Canada in 2006.
McDonald's has been proudly supporting Alexandre Despatie's career since 1999. Even if it has been reported that the partnership began when Alexandre stated that he felt like eating a Big Mac after the Commonwealth Games, McDonald's supports Alexandre Despatie for his values and his personality. As Ambassador, he is actively involved in the different non-profit organizations supported by McDonald's, including Ronald McDonald House Charities.
JUST ANNOUNCED!
Jennifer Heil will be a featured speaker in Ottawa, Halifax, Montreal, & Toronto.
Jennifer Heil - Biography
One of Canada's premier athletes and the 2006 Olympic Champion in freestyle mogul skiing, Jennifer Heil is a woman whose framework consists of hard work, dedication, intelligence and a fiery spirit. Introduced to skiing at the age of two by parents who loved the outdoors, Jenn came onto the Canadian mogul scene in 2000 at the age of 16, making her presence known when she captured both National Titles in moguls.
Born in Spruce Grove, Alberta, on April 11th, 1983 and now living in Montreal, Jenn's dream of becoming an Olympian was first sparked at an Edmonton newsstand, where browsing the Sports Illustrated Barcelona Olympics issue. She was enthralled by the power and determination she saw in the athlete's eyes deciding right then and there that one day she would be an Olympian. Her dream was first realized in 2002 when, at the age of 18, she finished 4th at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. Following the 2002 season Jenn decided to take a full year away from competition and moved to Montreal where she entered McGill University as a Business Management student.
Returning to competition in December 2003, Jenn proceeded to win the World Cup Overall Title followed by a 2005 World Championship Title. She worked hard in preparation for the 2006 Winter Olympics focusing on strength, conditioning, mental toughness and nutrition in order that she achieve her personal best and ultimate competition goal. In Torino, Italy, Jenn won gold - Canada's first medal of the 2006 Olympic games and the first gold by a Canadian woman in moguls.
This past season Jenn secured her 4th consecutive World Cup Title delivering an unprecedented 6 gold and 2 silver medals in 9 World Cup races along with gold and silver medal performances in the 2007 World Championships.
Jennifer's hard work, determination and humanitarian spirit comes across in her daily life through the work she does with local and international charitable organizations. She is an Athlete Ambassador with Right To Play. An athlete driven humanitarian organization, Right To Play works to improve the lives of the world's most disadvantaged children and the communities in which they live by using sport and play for development, health and peace. Jenn is an Ambassador for an Edmonton-based community organization, Kids Kottage Foundation that helps ensure children are safe and receive the support they deserve by providing care for them when their families are in crisis. Jennifer is also a Honourary Ambassador for KidSport, an organization that operates at a national, provincial and community level to assist children by overcoming financial barriers that prevent or limit their participation in organized sport. Jenn also takes the time to empower youth at schools in Quebec and Alberta.
Sports activities have always been a part of Jenn's life. As a youth she competed in cross-country running, volleyball and swimming and currently can be spotted riding waves on a surfboard. She admires her parent's dedication and hard work in life and cites Danica Patrick as a role model both in terms of striving for excellence and determination in breaking down barriers. Jennifer continues her studies at McGill University while preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Her "Dare to Dream" theme is embedded in her talks, Jenn feeling it important to encourage young women to dream no matter what the dream entails. She views her own experience as proof positive of what can happen when one does.
JUST ANNOUNCED! Ron Maclean will emcee Toronto Gold Medal Plates 2007.
Ron Maclean
Hockey Night in Canada
Thankfully, in 2002, thousands of Canadians demonstrated their unrelenting desire to have Ron MacLean continue as the long-time host of Hockey Night in Canada. MacLean is best known as the straight man on Coach's Corner, the listener and, some might argue, the voice of reason that saves Don Cherry from getting a puck in the head.
His broadcasting career began in 1978 when he took over a 16-month part-time position at a radio station in Red Deer, Alberta. One night in 1984, a hockey producer saw MacLean doing an ad-lib weather forecast and hired him to host the Calgary Flames telecasts on CKPD, an independent TV station in Calgary. He then became the sports anchor on the local evening news. MacLean's first love is hockey, which led him to Toronto in 1986 and Molson Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. The six-time Gemini Award-winning sportscaster has expanded his professional duties to include hosting CBC's coverage of the Summer and Winter Olympics, Calgary Stampede, Commonwealth Games and World Track & Field Championships. In his spare time, he is a Level 5 referee for the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.
As a host, master of ceremonies or featured speaker, MacLean's quick wit, thoughtful insights and humorous, engaging style have entertained audiences from coast to coast.
JUST ANNOUNCED! The featured athlete in Ottawa will be Alex Baumann.
Alex Baumann was an outstanding athlete at the international level who has extensive background in sport administration, teaching and development. He has been instrumental in the success of various community based programs, both in his native Canada and in Australia, focusing on motivating young people to achieve consistently high standards in sport and community activities.
From 1979 to 1987, his major swimming achievements included six World Records; two Gold Medals at the Los Angeles Olympics; five Gold Medals and two Silver Medals at the Commonwealth Games; four Silver and six Bronze Medals at other Games such as the Pan Pacific and World Championships. Alex was the recipient of the World Champion Award on four occasions and was the World Male Swimmer of the Year on two occasions (1981 and 1984).
Alex was recognised by his native Canada for his contributions to swimming and the community. The honours he has been presented with included The Officer of the Order of Canada, The Order of Ontario, induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. Alex was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (PhD) in Physical Education from Laurentian University, Canada in 1996.
In 1991 Alex moved to Queensland to take up tertiary study and in 1996 was appointed Manager, Sports Programs, for the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). In November 1997, he was appointed to the position of Executive Manager, International Sport, within the Office of Sport and Recreation. The position was responsible for the orientation of National Olympic and Paralympic Committees with the international standard sporting facilities, accommodation and other ancillary facilities, suited to pre-Games training and competition in Queensland. In 1999 Alex was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Swimming before becoming the Executive Director of the QAS in January of 2002. As the Executive Director of the QAS, Alex represented Queensland's interests on the National Elite Sports Council (NESC).
In January of 2007 Alex came back to Canada as the inaugural Executive Director of the Road to Excellence (RTE) program. The RTE program's goal is to improve podium performances at future Olympic Games and help build a system that will produce quality results.
JUST ANNOUNCED! Jim Cuddy, multi Juno winner and lead singer of Blue Rodeo
will perform at Gold Medal Plates Events this year in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa! NOT TO BE MISSED!
"The Light That Guides You Home -- his first extracurricular full-length since 1998's All in Time -- delivers everything you know, love, want and expect from Cuddy: Impeccably crafted, slightly nostalgic country-rock and roots-pop laced with gorgeous melodies, bittersweet lyrics, heartfelt vocals and twangy sincerity." - The Sun Newspaper Group
It was the mid-seventies when Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor first met each other in high school. After discovering a mutual love of music, they formed an "amphetamine pop band" called the HiFi's. The pair moved to New York City in 1981 and tried to land a recording contract. Three years later they returned to Toronto without a deal but discovered a burgeoning club scene where acts like k.d. lang, The Cowboy Junkies and Jeff Healey were honing their chops. Through a series of chance meetings and the classified ads, Jim and Greg formed Blue Rodeo.
Since the release of their debut album, Outskirts, in March 1987, Blue Rodeo have established themselves as one of the premiere bands in Canadian music history. They have released ten studio albums, one live album, a Greatest Hits collection, and an award winning DVD, selling in excess of 4 million copies around the world.
In 1998, Jim released his first solo album All In Time, which went on to sell Gold in his native Canada. His second solo recording, The Light That Guides You Home, won the 2007 Juno for Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Cuddy proves once again that his songwriting ranks with the best Canada has to offer.
JUST ANNOUNCED! Dick Pound will be the featured speaker at the Gold Medal Plates Montreal event.
Ottawa - Wednesday October 15, Hilton Lac Leamy
Click Here for Details
Toronto - Thursday October 16, The Royal York
Click Here for Details
Montreal - Thursday October 23, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Click Here for Details
Vancouver - Wednesday November 5, Westin Bayshore
Click Here for Details
Edmonton - Thursday November 6, Shaw Conference Centre
Click Here for Details
Calgary - Thursday November 20, The Round Up Centre
Click Here for Details
A WINNER IS CROWNED!
Kelly Hrudey - Biography
Analyst, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada
Kelly Hrudey returns for his ninth straight season as an analyst with CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA, working alongside host Scott Oake for the western broadcasts of the Saturday night doubleheaders. A popular and knowledgeable hockey commentator, Hrudey became a full-time hockey analyst with CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA during the 1998/99 NHL season, after providing stellar commentary during the previous four playoff seasons with host Ron MacLean. During the 1999 NHL playoffs, Hrudey's segment Behind the Mask became a regular feature on CBC'S Hockey Night in Canada and currently airs during the first intermission of game two of the Saturday night doubleheaders. Hrudey, a former NHL goalie, also offers his intriguing insights and analysis during CBC'S Hockey Night in Canada post-game show After Hours.
In February 2006, Hrudey worked as an analyst for CBC's broadcast of Torino 2006 - The Olympic Games, marking his second Olympic broadcast experience.
Hrudey strapped on the pads with the Calgary Flames in the Fall of 2001 for Basic Training - a feature on the Flames training camp that aired as part of CBC'S Hockey Night in Canada pre-game show during the first five weeks of the regular season. It provided fans with a rare glimpse of what players, rookies and veterans alike experience en route to hopefully making an NHL squad.
During his 15-year NHL career as a goalie with the New York Islanders (six years), Los Angeles Kings (seven years) and San Jose Sharks (two years), the former Medicine Hat Tiger compiled a record of 271-265-88, with a goals against average of 3.43 and 16 shutouts.
Hrudey resides in Calgary with his wife and three daughters.
Alexandre Despatie - Biography
McDonald's ambassador
Three-time world champion and Olympic medalist
In March 2007, Alexandre earned two silver medals at the FINA World Championships at the 3-metre and synchronized 3-metre events (with Arturo Miranda). Last year, Alexandre participated to the Commonwealth Games in Australia, where he won the 1-metre, 3-metre and the synchronized 3-metre events, in addition to a bronze medal at the 10-metre event. His performances of the last few years worth him the first International World Diver Award at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Awards.At the FINA World Championships in Montreal in 2005, Alexandre Despatie earned gold medals in both 1-metre and 3-metre springboard, becoming the first diver in history to be world champion at all three diving events. His performance in 3-metre springboard earned him a total of 813.60 points, becoming the first diver to be awarded over 800 points in 3-metre. He became the world champion at 10-metre platform in July 2003 in Barcelona.
His second Olympic experience in Athens, Greece, earned him a silver medal in 3-metre springboard, making him the first Canadian in history to win a medal. In Sydney in 2000, he finished in fourth place in the 10 metre platform event. At 15, he was the youngest member of the Canadian contingent.
After earning a silver medal at the 2001 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he won three gold medals and one bronze at the Pan American Games held in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) in August, 2003.
When he was only 13 years old, Alexandre won the gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, making him the youngest gold medal winner ever in the history of the Games. This achievement earned Alexandre a spot in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records.
Alexandre recently broke a Canadian record by earning his 36th career national title. In the course of his career, he was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year four times at the Canadian Sports Awards, as well as being named three-time Male International Athlete of the Year at the Gala Sports-Québec (2003, 2004 and 2006). Alexandre also received the personality of the year title in the Sports and Leisure category of the Gala Excellence La Presse / Radio-Canada in 2006.
McDonald's has been proudly supporting Alexandre Despatie's career since 1999. Even if it has been reported that the partnership began when Alexandre stated that he felt like eating a Big Mac after the Commonwealth Games, McDonald's supports Alexandre Despatie for his values and his personality. As Ambassador, he is actively involved in the different non-profit organizations supported by McDonald's, including Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Jennifer Heil - BiographyOne of Canada's premier athletes and the 2006 Olympic Champion in freestyle mogul skiing, Jennifer Heil is a woman whose framework consists of hard work, dedication, intelligence and a fiery spirit. Introduced to skiing at the age of two by parents who loved the outdoors, Jenn came onto the Canadian mogul scene in 2000 at the age of 16, making her presence known when she captured both National Titles in moguls.
Born in Spruce Grove, Alberta, on April 11th, 1983 and now living in Montreal, Jenn's dream of becoming an Olympian was first sparked at an Edmonton newsstand, where browsing the Sports Illustrated Barcelona Olympics issue. She was enthralled by the power and determination she saw in the athlete's eyes deciding right then and there that one day she would be an Olympian. Her dream was first realized in 2002 when, at the age of 18, she finished 4th at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. Following the 2002 season Jenn decided to take a full year away from competition and moved to Montreal where she entered McGill University as a Business Management student.
Returning to competition in December 2003, Jenn proceeded to win the World Cup Overall Title followed by a 2005 World Championship Title. She worked hard in preparation for the 2006 Winter Olympics focusing on strength, conditioning, mental toughness and nutrition in order that she achieve her personal best and ultimate competition goal. In Torino, Italy, Jenn won gold - Canada's first medal of the 2006 Olympic games and the first gold by a Canadian woman in moguls.
This past season Jenn secured her 4th consecutive World Cup Title delivering an unprecedented 6 gold and 2 silver medals in 9 World Cup races along with gold and silver medal performances in the 2007 World Championships.
Jennifer's hard work, determination and humanitarian spirit comes across in her daily life through the work she does with local and international charitable organizations. She is an Athlete Ambassador with Right To Play. An athlete driven humanitarian organization, Right To Play works to improve the lives of the world's most disadvantaged children and the communities in which they live by using sport and play for development, health and peace. Jenn is an Ambassador for an Edmonton-based community organization, Kids Kottage Foundation that helps ensure children are safe and receive the support they deserve by providing care for them when their families are in crisis. Jennifer is also a Honourary Ambassador for KidSport, an organization that operates at a national, provincial and community level to assist children by overcoming financial barriers that prevent or limit their participation in organized sport. Jenn also takes the time to empower youth at schools in Quebec and Alberta.
Sports activities have always been a part of Jenn's life. As a youth she competed in cross-country running, volleyball and swimming and currently can be spotted riding waves on a surfboard. She admires her parent's dedication and hard work in life and cites Danica Patrick as a role model both in terms of striving for excellence and determination in breaking down barriers. Jennifer continues her studies at McGill University while preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Her "Dare to Dream" theme is embedded in her talks, Jenn feeling it important to encourage young women to dream no matter what the dream entails. She views her own experience as proof positive of what can happen when one does.
Ron MacleanHockey Night in Canada
Thankfully, in 2002, thousands of Canadians demonstrated their unrelenting desire to have Ron MacLean continue as the long-time host of Hockey Night in Canada. MacLean is best known as the straight man on Coach's Corner, the listener and, some might argue, the voice of reason that saves Don Cherry from getting a puck in the head.
His broadcasting career began in 1978 when he took over a 16-month part-time position at a radio station in Red Deer, Alberta. One night in 1984, a hockey producer saw MacLean doing an ad-lib weather forecast and hired him to host the Calgary Flames telecasts on CKPD, an independent TV station in Calgary. He then became the sports anchor on the local evening news. MacLean's first love is hockey, which led him to Toronto in 1986 and Molson Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. The six-time Gemini Award-winning sportscaster has expanded his professional duties to include hosting CBC's coverage of the Summer and Winter Olympics, Calgary Stampede, Commonwealth Games and World Track & Field Championships. In his spare time, he is a Level 5 referee for the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.
As a host, master of ceremonies or featured speaker, MacLean's quick wit, thoughtful insights and humorous, engaging style have entertained audiences from coast to coast.
Alex Baumann was an outstanding athlete at the international level who has extensive background in sport administration, teaching and development. He has been instrumental in the success of various community based programs, both in his native Canada and in Australia, focusing on motivating young people to achieve consistently high standards in sport and community activities.From 1979 to 1987, his major swimming achievements included six World Records; two Gold Medals at the Los Angeles Olympics; five Gold Medals and two Silver Medals at the Commonwealth Games; four Silver and six Bronze Medals at other Games such as the Pan Pacific and World Championships. Alex was the recipient of the World Champion Award on four occasions and was the World Male Swimmer of the Year on two occasions (1981 and 1984).
Alex was recognised by his native Canada for his contributions to swimming and the community. The honours he has been presented with included The Officer of the Order of Canada, The Order of Ontario, induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. Alex was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (PhD) in Physical Education from Laurentian University, Canada in 1996.
In 1991 Alex moved to Queensland to take up tertiary study and in 1996 was appointed Manager, Sports Programs, for the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). In November 1997, he was appointed to the position of Executive Manager, International Sport, within the Office of Sport and Recreation. The position was responsible for the orientation of National Olympic and Paralympic Committees with the international standard sporting facilities, accommodation and other ancillary facilities, suited to pre-Games training and competition in Queensland. In 1999 Alex was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Swimming before becoming the Executive Director of the QAS in January of 2002. As the Executive Director of the QAS, Alex represented Queensland's interests on the National Elite Sports Council (NESC).
In January of 2007 Alex came back to Canada as the inaugural Executive Director of the Road to Excellence (RTE) program. The RTE program's goal is to improve podium performances at future Olympic Games and help build a system that will produce quality results.
"The Light That Guides You Home -- his first extracurricular full-length since 1998's All in Time -- delivers everything you know, love, want and expect from Cuddy: Impeccably crafted, slightly nostalgic country-rock and roots-pop laced with gorgeous melodies, bittersweet lyrics, heartfelt vocals and twangy sincerity." - The Sun Newspaper Group
It was the mid-seventies when Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor first met each other in high school. After discovering a mutual love of music, they formed an "amphetamine pop band" called the HiFi's. The pair moved to New York City in 1981 and tried to land a recording contract. Three years later they returned to Toronto without a deal but discovered a burgeoning club scene where acts like k.d. lang, The Cowboy Junkies and Jeff Healey were honing their chops. Through a series of chance meetings and the classified ads, Jim and Greg formed Blue Rodeo.
Since the release of their debut album, Outskirts, in March 1987, Blue Rodeo have established themselves as one of the premiere bands in Canadian music history. They have released ten studio albums, one live album, a Greatest Hits collection, and an award winning DVD, selling in excess of 4 million copies around the world.
In 1998, Jim released his first solo album All In Time, which went on to sell Gold in his native Canada. His second solo recording, The Light That Guides You Home, won the 2007 Juno for Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Cuddy proves once again that his songwriting ranks with the best Canada has to offer.