Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation

His Excellency presented the first Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation to eight recipients, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, on November 12, 2013.

"Paul Clerc was a first-team Canada West all-star in 2012, his third campaign with UBC’s men’s soccer squad. Since he joined the team, the defender from Coquitlam, B.C., has been instrumental in the Thunderbirds success, helping them capture a pair of Canada West banners, a CIS silver medal, as well as their record 12th national title a year ago. Last summer, he was selected to represent Canada at the Universiade in Kazan, Russia.

A three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian in kinesiology, Clerc maintained an 84.5 per cent average in 2012-13."

"Jaki Ellis wrapped up her exceptional volleyball career with the Alberta Pandas in 2012-13. In five seasons with the team, the talented setter earned three selections as an all-Canadian and as many nods as a CIS championship all-star, while leading the Pandas to three Canada West medals, one conference title and a pair of appearances in the CIS final. The native of Mississauga, Ont., who represented Canada at the 2011 Universiade in China, was named the U of A’s most outstanding female athlete each of the past two years.

A three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian, Ellis earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Distinction last June after maintaining a 3.5 grade point average over five years. She was awarded the Dr. Maury Van Vliet Athletic/Academic Scholarship on three occasions and, in 2012-13, was the Canada West nominee for the Thérèse Quigley award, presented to the CIS women’s volleyball athlete who best combines athletics, academics and community service."

"To say that Steven Takahashi has had a stellar start to his university wrestling career would be an understatement. He was crowned individual champion in his weight class in each of his first three appearances at the OUA and CIS championships, while helping the Western men capture a pair of conference team titles and two CIS bronze medals. Despite being only 21 years old, he already possesses extensive international experience, including the Pan American Games, junior world championships and Universiade.

Takahashi also excelled in the classroom since he arrived on the London campus, earning recognition on the Dean’s List and as a CIS Academic All-Canadian in each of the past three years. A recipient of numerous academic accolades over the years, he shows an 83.56 per cent average in his kinesiology program and is expected to graduate in June 2014."

"Alicia Brown had a breakout season in her fifth and final year with the Varsity Blues women’s track and field team, in 2012-13. The Ottawa native was named the OUA most valuable female performer in track events and a received her third first-team all-Canadian nod thanks to three gold medals at both the conference and national championships, including an OUA record in the 4x400 relay and a CIS meet mark in the 4x200. She went on to represent Canada at last summer’s Universiade in Kazan, Russia, and at the IAAF world championships in Moscow, helping the red and white 4x400 relay to a second-place finish at the Universiade.

In the classroom, the CIS Academic All-Canadian completed last spring her program in Visual Culture & Communications from the University of Toronto Mississauga, achieving a 3.74 grade point average over her final year. During her time at the University of Toronto, she merited numerous academic recognitions, including the Hector Phillips Award and the Deus Benedicat Award (twice)."

"Football player Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has been dominant since the day he joined the Redmen in the fall of 2010. Named McGill’s most outstanding lineman in his sophomore season, he exploded on the national scene a year ago when he was voted team MVP and a first-team all-Canadian at offensive tackle. After suiting up in the CIS East West Bowl last spring, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound co-captain was listed as the top-rated prospect for the 2014 CFL Draft by the league’s Scouting Bureau earlier this fall.

He has been as impressive in the classroom since he arrived on the Montreal campus, meriting CIS Academic All-Canadian status and qualifying for the Principal’s Student-Athlete Honour Roll in each of his first three years at McGill. Duvernay-Tardif achieved a perfect sessional grade point average of 4.0 in medicine in 2012-13 and has a cumulative GPA of 3.92. Over the last year, he received McGill’s 1938 Champions Award for combining leadership with athletic prowess and academic excellence, as well as a pair of Montreal Alouettes bursaries, for athletic and academic excellence."

"Émilie Chamard started her university soccer career with the Laval Rouge et Or before transferring to the University of Montreal in 2010 to continue her education. In her fifth and final CIS season in 2012, her third with the Carabins, the defender was named a first-team RSEQ conference all-star and helped Montreal reach the Quebec final for the third straight year. She had previously led the Carabins to a pair of RSEQ titles (2011, 2010) and a silver medal at the 2011 national championship.

In the 2012-13 academic year, the PHD in neuropsychology student achieved a remarkable 4.150 grade point average in both the fall and winter semesters. A CIS Academic All-Canadian each of her three years at Montreal, the Quebec City native received the Vanier scholarship in 2013 and was voted student-athlete of the year at the University of Montreal."

Following a five-year OHL career with the Guelph Storm and the Ottawa 67’s, Travis Gibbons immediately made his way into the Acadia lineup, playing in 49 of 56 conference games over his first two university hockey campaigns. The intense defenceman chipped in three goals each season as he helped the Axemen to back-to-back playoff appearances.

In the classroom, Gibbons has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the first two years of his kinesiology degree. A two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and member of the Dean’s List, he was Acadia’s most decorated male student-athlete in 2012-13.

"Monica MacDonald had a successful four-year swimming career at the University of New Brunswick. In four appearances at the AUS conference championships, the Varsity Reds captain qualified for the final in 14 of the 15 events she competed in.

On the academic front, MacDonald graduated in May 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Honours after maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 4.2, including a perfect 4.3 in her final year. A four-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and member of the Dean’s List, she received the Garnet Copeland Award in 2012-13 as UNB’s top overall student-athlete, recognizing athletics, academics and community service."

The Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation recognizes student-athletes who have maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while playing on one or more of their university’s varsity teams. These “Top Eight Academic All-Canadians” are selected by Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

Each year, over 2 600 Canadian Interuniversity Sport student-athletes achieve an academic average of 80 per cent or higher, demonstrating their commitment to success in the classroom as well as on the playing field. These recipients represent the best and brightest, having achieved outstanding academic success while representing their university on varsity teams.