Sport for Life CEO inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame • Sport for Life

Richard Way has been inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (GVSHOF).

In April, Sport for Life’s CEO was named alongside five athletes, one team and one coach. He was recognized as an architect of the Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity (LTD) framework and lauded for his work with national sport organizations.

The annual inductee dinner took place October 29, an event to “formally induct these great champions who are truly worthy of recognition and inclusion among their peers into our Hall of Fame,” according to Doug Jennings, president of the GVSHF.

In the athlete category, Dave Kirzinger (football), Brenda Shields Hennigar (speed skating), Gerry Poulton (squash), Gary Reed (athletics) and Jim Rutledge (golf) were inducted. Iconic rowing pair Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee were celebrated in the team category. In the coaching category, triathlon coach Lance Watson was recognized. Way is being honoured for his work within the builder category, for pioneering a “generational change in the sport system, evolving how athletes are developed.”

Throughout his career, Way has facilitated the use of LTD for over 60 sports in more than 100 countries. He’s been a catalyst for advancing quality sport and developing physical literacy and has contributed to over 200 resources on those subjects. Under his leadership, the Sport for Life team was awarded the Canadian Medical Association’s national Award for Excellence in Health Promotion, and more recently the team was a finalist in the Global Design Challenge, which aimed to find innovative solutions to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Way is a founding member of the International Physical Literacy Association. Since relocating to Victoria in the early ‘90s, he established the International Coaching School in 1993, co-founded the Coaches Association of BC and served as the Director of Sport for Vancouver’s successful bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. He served as a commission member of the International Luge Federation, a board member of the Canadian Luge Association, and the founder of both the Calgary Luge Club and the B.C. Luge Association. He started his career by representing Canada in nine National Luge World Championships and played for the All-Canadian West soccer team at the University of Calgary. He is the proud father of three sporty children.

“Entering the Hall as a builder means there are a lot of people to thank, as no one builds alone. To receive this honour I have had the pleasure to work with many really smart people. It took many people to develop long-term athlete development and introduce physical literacy to Canada,” said Way. “We’ve changed sport by creating the Sport for Life national non-profit and Physical Literacy for Life charity. That could only be achieved with the collaborative leadership of Wendy Pattendan, Roger Smolnicky and Ram Nayyar, among others! To achieve this honour, we have had so many great partners; together, we are trying to be a catalyst for change, to ensure every person, whatever their circumstance, has the opportunity to develop physical literacy and enjoy the benefits of quality sport.”

A visual representation of this group of inductees will be added to the physical GVSHF display at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre concourse in Victoria.

Some highlights of Richard Way’s career
Note: All below milestones were achieved with the support and expertise of other talented people

Pre-2000s:

Started an intramurals program at Sardis High School
Lobbied successfully to start a university soccer team at the University of Calgary
Created the North East Alberta Games
Started Lloyd Luge Club, Calgary Luge Club, National Capital Luge Club
Started BC Bobsleigh and Luge Association
Created the Alberta Luge Cup Series
Initiated the Canadian National Natural Luge Team
Wrote NCCP Luge Technical Level 1 and Level 2 Courses
Became the first Canadian on the FIL Natural Luge Commission
Created the 3-on-3 Heat in the Streets Basketball Tourney with SRC Management
Created Le Festival Du Bois with SRC Management
Created the Coaches Association of BC
Created the International Coaching Conference in Victoria
Participated in the creation of the BC Regional Sport Network (PacificSport) in the BC government
Was a member of the founding committee of the Olympic Youth Academy of BC
Wrote the business plan with Marion Lay to create the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific
Was a founding member of the Bob Bearpark Foundation

2000s:

Determined many sport venue locations in the bid for the 2010 Olympics
Was an architect of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and Sport for Life
Was a founding member of the International Physical Literacy Association
Created the Sport for Life Summit
Introduced physical literacy to Canada with Istvan Balyi and others
Facilitated Soccer Canada’s first Strategic Plan: 2009 – 2012
Wrote Long-Term Athlete Development with Istvan Balyi and Dr. Colin Higgs, published by Human Kinetics
Was the founding CEO of Sport for Life Society
Created the International Physical Literacy Conference