Ian Anderson received the Special Achievement Award at the Ontario Sport Awards this past spring for his contributions to the sport of Track & Field in Ontario. He started out in the 1960’s as a high school middle distance coach, with team from all four high schools where he taught winning City of Etobicoke or OFSAA championships. He joined the Toronto Striders and then in the early 70’s formed Track West. Track West was a very successful middle distance club, with one highlight coming in 1978 when three of the six junior boys that formed the Canadian Cross Country team finished second as a team at the World Cross Country Championship. Track West’s Rob Earl also earned a silver medal at that same Worlds.

Ian served as the meet director for the 1972 Olympic Trials in Scarborough and in 1973 formed the Ontario Meet Directors Council, for which he served as the first chairman. From 1971 to 1976, he ran a major meet, often with crowds of 3,000 or more at a three-hour invitational. Ian is currently coaching and officiating with Bolton Pole Vault. Over his coaching career, he has a chance to work with such notables as Peter Walker, Steve and Bill Lincoln and Mike Dyon, all middle distance runners, as well as pole vaulters Janice and Doug Creighton, Heather Hamilton, and Jason Wurster.

2022 marked his 55th OFSAA in one capacity or another. “As pole vault chief for one last time, it is time to pass the hat on to the younger generation.”