Pamela Law of St Lazare, QC, was honoured as the 2011 Jump Canada ‘Volunteer of the Year’ in recognition of her dedicated support and development of hunter and jumper sport.

Law’s first role as a volunteer dates back to when she handled sponsorship, prize money and ribbons for the popular Horsemanship Horse Show held in Hudson, QC.  Her commitment to helping the sport in her home province of Quebec has always been evident.  She took on the difficult task of assisting with the tabulation of year-end points for the Federation Equestre de Quebec (FEQ), and also spent time volunteering to organize the annual FEQ banquet.

Law was a long-standing member of the Jump Canada Rules Committee and, for the past five years, has served as chair, a demanding post requiring frequent meetings, never-ending rule change reviews and a yearly rule amendment process.

In addition to chairing the Jump Canada Rules Committee, Law is chair of the Quebec Hunter and Jumper Association and a Quebec representative for the CET Medal class.

A well-known and respected Equine Canada Senior Judge for Hunter, Equitation, Hack and Jumper, Law is often in the judge’s booth at local and national competitions.

“I am very honored to have been awarded the Jump Canada Volunteer of the Year award and to join the company of those worthy winners before me,” said Law. “We have so many wonderful volunteers in our sport that help make it the success it is. I thank all of the people who give of their time to help on the various committees of Jump Canada, and I thank them also for this award.”

“Pam Law is indeed a worthy recipient of the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award,” said John Taylor, Chair of Jump Canada.  “Pam has very capably led the Jump Canada Rules Committee for several years and is also involved with the sport at a provincial level.  Always willing to share her expertise and experience with others, Pam sets a fine example of the type of volunteer that helps our sport thrive.”

In its inaugural year, the 2001 Jump Canada ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award was given to Alan Chesler of Orangeville, ON, while Mark Samuel of Toronto, ON, was honoured in 2002 for his dedication to Canadian show jumping as the first Chair of Jump Canada.  In 2003, Chesler was once again named the recipient based on his dedication to the success of the FEI Children’s Final held in Calgary, AB.  In 2004, Craig Collins of Loretto, ON, was recognized for the hundreds of hours of volunteer service given both to Jump Canada and Equine Canada as a whole.  Claudia Cojocar was the recipient in 2005 for the countless hours she devoted to the development of coaching standards.  The Jump Canada Hall of Fame Committee was honoured with the award in 2006 in recognition of their dedicated support of Canadian show jumping.

Victoria Andrew of Nepean, ON, who was closely involved with the coaching certification program and the transition to competency-based education and training, was recognized for her efforts in 2007.  In 2008, Lisa Cieplucha of Georgetown, ON, earned the award for her countless hours spent working with Equine Canada and Jump Canada as a valuable official, volunteer, clinician and committee member.  Jump Canada Past Chair Elizabeth Bordeaux of Surrey, BC, won the award in recognition of her dedicated support of Canadian hunter and jumper sport in 2009.  In 2010, Barbara Mitchell of Orangeville, ON, won the award for her vision and commitment to athlete development.