In celebration of Canadian Sport Institute Ontario’s 25th Anniversary, we are excited to share our history and the impact CSIO has had on the Ontario and Canadian sport system by elevating people and performances in the pursuit of building champions. The stories will be told over the year-long celebration through three concurrent article series – Elevating Excellence, Elevating People, and Elevating Performances.
Our next article comes from our Elevating Excellence series, which will share the history of CSIO through the lens of each of the Chairs of our Board of Directors, past and present. Written by acclaimed sports journalist David Grossman, our feature highlights a significant period of growth at CSIO, and the contributions of our second Board Chair, Chris Rudge.
By David Grossman
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He’s one of a kind. A glance through his remarkable credentials in the world of business, sport and education put him in a category as one of Canada’s most prolific leaders. Toss in his affection and formula for a good life – and you’re looking at a dynamic and charismatic individual.
That’s Chris Rudge.
British-born and raised in Malton, once referred to as that place in northwestern Toronto without pool halls or a movie theatre, as a youngster Rudge had his own set of personal challenges that were more serious. For him, it was dealing with an infectious viral disease.
Called poliomyelitis, it was some 70 years ago considered to be debilitating and life-threatening. Paralyzed from his waist down, Rudge was the recipient of medical attention at Toronto’s world renowned Hospital for Sick Children. Then, as a five-year old, patience and time were devoted to him learning how to walk all over again.
Rudge remembers glancing, from his hospital bed, outside – and seeing kids playing. He was hoping that he could one day do it as well. That determination never left him.
Rudge would go on to earn a degree in physical education and health as well as teaching certification from the University of Toronto and Queen’s University, respectively. Articulate, and fixated on achievement, Rudge also financed his journey through university by driving taxis and trucks, as well as a bouncer in bars.
It didn’t take long, and Rudge would return to the classroom.
This time, it was as a physical education teacher at Toronto’s Lawrence Park Collegiate, Western Technical and Commercial School and Forest Hill Junior in the 1970s. In addition, Rudge was an adjunct professor and guest lecturer at three major Canadian universities. Focussed and strict when he had to be, his goal was that fervor for students to achieve success.
Some say his superb journey of accomplishments may have started in his younger years as a member of the 1968 Mann Cup lacrosse champion Brooklyn Redmen. Then, as a professional lacrosse player with the Syracuse Stingers in 1974.
The thirst for success would lead to another form of passion – one that would have his footprint of excellence and prominence in business, sport, and a devotion to community work.
Having a rewarding career as an executive, leader and decision-maker, Rudge always looked for further challenges, alternatives, and options. A prolific volunteer and ardent sportsman, Rudge also had a stint with leadership as a coach with the Canadian National Field Lacrosse Team and the Costa Rican National Box Lacrosse Team.
Experience would lead to opportunities and then to achievements and a genuine eagerness of strengthening and improving in everything that would come his way.
Some of his accomplishments included senior positions, which included being a member of the office of the chief executive officer, at Quebecor World Inc. At the time, Quebecor was the largest commercial printing company in the world.
Rudge was also active on numerous boards ranging from Merrill Lynch Canada to executive chairman and chief executive officer of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club and chairman of the 100th Grey Cup Festival in 2012.
But there was something that many believe would take precedence in his life – amateur sport.
For eight years, starting in 2003, Rudge was chief executive officer and secretary general of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and a member of the Board of the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
There was more – including his vital role in the creation, and chairman, of a successful program called Own The Podium, which funded Canadian athletes preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Once known as the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario, now Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO), was destined to enhance its operations and move to a new world-class facility, what would eventually be the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. It was then that Rudge offered to help build something unique in the country. Already a board member, he agreed to become chair of the CSIO Board of Directors – a major role he would assume for eight years.
“At that time, the Institute was still more virtual than tangible,” he said. “My main goal was to work with all stakeholders who could help athletes achieve their maximum potential and to gain the support of governments and sponsors who could help us realize the dream of a high-performance centre that would provide aspiring athletes with the facilities and support staff equal to anything found in the world.”
That objective was accomplished, but Rudge wasn’t finished.
“Just as important, I was committed to building a governance structure that would see a board and management team that were engaged, highly principled, diverse, accomplished and committed to the success of our athletes,” he added.
Always learning and finding ways to assist young athletes eager to represent Canada at major international events, Rudge would go beyond his experience. For him, it was always about utilizing a strong and knowledgeable group of people to build and lay the framework that would lead to the CSIO in becoming a world-class organization of programs.
Included would be the vital and paramount areas of sport medicine, sport science services and the critical leadership for high performance athletes and coaches.
Rudge was strong on teamwork, tapping resources to focus on improving facilities, and the rapid growth of experienced and dedicated staff.
“The goal was always to give athletes the tools and support needed, to maximize their potential,” said Rudge, who was on the board of the 2015 Pan and Parapan Am Games in Toronto and he remains a strong believer in equity in sport. “I was part of a group – and very fortunate to be surrounded with skilled people.”
Once told he was naïve, Rudge interpreted that in a different way.
“I saw it as an asset, an opportunity to try everything, grow, learn and push myself to be active and supportive in many ways,” he said. “For me, the keys to success came down to defining what I wanted to achieve, developing a critical path and surrounding myself with giants.”
Now, 78 years of age, Rudge is active, dividing his time between swimming and cycling to lifting weights, reading, cooking, and lecturing on business development and management. Spending a good chunk of the year living in Costa Rica, Rudge has devoted time to woodworking and crafting unique charcuterie boards.
“Early in life, I knew that my level of comfort is really discomfort,” he said. “I always need a challenge and the social stimulation of being around other people, sharing ideas and looking for and having things to accomplish.”
From the creation of the CSIO’s main facility at TPASC to its Regional Training Centre at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre northwest of the city in Milton, Rudge was involved. It was his vision and dedication to the Canadian and Ontario high performance sport community that brought modern facilities and the lasting legacies of the Toronto Pan/Parapan Am Games to life.
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David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.
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About Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
Celebrating 25 years, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) is a non-profit organization committed to the pursuit of excellence by providing best-in-class programs, services, and leadership to high performance athletes, coaches, and National and Provincial Sport Organizations to enhance their ability to achieve international podium performances. Our team of expert staff deliver sport science, sport medicine, life services, and coaching and technical leadership support to help Canada win medals and strengthen the sport system in Ontario and Canada. CSIO is part of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, working in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium, and the Coaching Association of Canada. CSIO is further supported by funding partners such as the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Sport Canada. www.csiontario.ca
Media Contact:
Laura Albright, Senior Advisor, Communications & Marketing
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
Tel: 647.395.7536
Email: lalbright@csiontario.ca
www.csiontario.ca