President’s and John Anderson Sport Partner Award recipients named

RCA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 President’s Award and John Anderson Sport Partner Award.

President’s Award
Dr. Mike Wilkinson

The President’s Award is awarded at the discretion of the President of RCA to recognize significant contributions to our sport.

President Carol Purcer selected Dr. Mike Wilkinson, RCA’s Chief Medical Officer, as the 2020 recipient of this award because of his outstanding leadership and care for the safety of RCA’s membership during the pandemic.

“His persistent guidance in helping all of us understand better the evolving daily topic—the Coronavirus and the pandemic repercussions—resulted in thoughtful decisions and helped us to safety return to some safe on-water activity successfully,” said Purcer. “Also, I would like to note the recognition he has brought to our safe practice at the world level. His commitment and dedication to our organization has made our sport safe at a very difficult time!”

Mike also serves as the Chief Medical Officer for the Canadian Olympic Committee. He has been to eight Olympic and Pan American Games as a medical lead and has worked as the Vancouver Canucks’ team doctor and the Director of Medical Services for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics.

John Anderson Sport Partner Award
Adam Klevinas – Sportlex

The John Anderson Sport Partner Award is occasionally awarded by RCA in special recognition of a partnership that has gone above and beyond.

Sports lawyer Adam Klevinas of Sportlex has been chosen as a recipient of this award for the work he has done with RCA on Safe Sport that will benefit the entire rowing community, make our sport safer, and move us toward a more inclusive future.

Adam has supported RCA’s Safe Sport policy development, participated in community consultation, delivered educational webinars, and facilitated a partnership and co-development with Canoe Kayak Canada. He has supported the harmonization of RCA’s Safe Sport policy and framework across Canada in partnership with PRAs and has acted as a generous and trusted advisor in dealing with real-time Safe Sport related issues.

Prior to founding Sportlex, Adam worked as a litigation lawyer at McCarthy Tetrault LLP, as in-house legal counsel at the World Anti-Doping Agency, and as an Associate with the Sport Law and Strategy Group. Adam is a former member of Canada’s junior and national sprint kayak teams and a Pan American Championships medallist.

More information on the 2020 RCA Excellence Awards can be found here.