Gillian Thomson inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

by Sail Canada on 29 Nov 2014 Gillian Thomson was honored this week for her 28 years of dedicated service and work at the Central Okanagan Sailing Association (COSA).

Thomson was president of COSA from 2004 to 2007 and Director for the COSA Learn to Sail program from 1986 to date. She has been a member of the BC Sailing Board of Directors for the past 10 years and just completed a six year term on the Board of Directors of Sail Canada.

'This past summer, we provided lessons to over 2,500 participants with ten paid instructors and five young volunteers, all home grown. COSA is a relatively small club but we are the only club in Canada to have twice received the award for Best Sailing School in the country.'

Perhaps her most significant legacy as a volunteer will be the impact Thomson has had on females in the sport. Dan MacAfee, a past president of COSA, said the role modeling Thomson provides to girls for the sailing community is evident as the number of female sailing instructors is either equal to or exceeding those of males.

'Gillian exemplifies what Aristotle was talking about when he wrote about excellence. ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.'

Gillian Thomson first made her mark in sailing as an elite competitor, winning a gold and silver medal at the 1992 and 1993 Hobie 18 women's world championships, and a silver medal in the Trapseat 16 Pan American Games in 1998.

Gillian was one of five inductees recognized at the annual Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame Gala breakfast on Thursday. As a member of the Sail Canada board of directors for six productive years, we congratulate Gillian on this well-deserved honour!