Wally Buono among six British Columbians named to Order of Canada
By GORDON MCINTYRE, The Province December 26, 2014 1:46 PM
Wally Buono, the Hall of Fame general manager of the B.C. Lions, has been made a Member of the Order of Canada, the office of the Governor General announced on Friday afternoon.
Buono, named for his contributions to football as a player, coach and manager, was one of six people from Metro Vancouver who were made Members in the twice-yearly issue of new appointments.
“Like all of these things, I’m overwhelmed and surprised,” he told the Province. “You don’t see yourself in this light.”
Members are nominated and Membership is awarded to those who exemplify Order’s motto: They strive for a better country.
“You do it because it’s the right thing to do, the thing you believe in and you have a responsibility to do it, a desire to do it,” Buono said.
“You don’t do it for the recognition. It’s a humbling thing. You don’t think about it, dream about it - you hear about it happening to others.”
Born Pascale Buono in Potenza, Italy, to poor parents, Buono moved with his family to Montreal when he was three.
Local kids had trouble pronouncing his first name and he became Wally.
After some troubled times as a youth - his father died when he was eight, Buono and his brother spent three and a half years in a home for boys - Buono found grounding in football and faith.
He attended the Idaho State on a scholarship, then spent 10 years playing with the Montreal Alouettes as a linebacker and punter.
He would go on to become head coach of the Calgary Stampeders before joining the Lions in 2000, working with the late Bob Ackles to turn the floundering franchise around.
Buono won two Grey Cups as a player and five more as a coach before resigning from the sidelines in 2011 to focus more on his managerial duties.
Due to turn 65 in January, Buono needed life-saving triple-bypass heart surgery 10 years ago.
Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his work in establishing the global standard of care for HIV/AIDS treatment and his leadership in international HIV/AIDS research.
Senator Jack Austin, was named a member as well for his contributions to Canada’s foreign trade. Others named as members of the order are architect Barry Downs,for his work in melding buildings with their natural landscape, Dr. Joanne Douglas for her work in making child birth safer for mothers and newborns and UBC professor Olav Slaymaker for his work in geology.
There are almost 2,200 living Members, according to the Governor General’s office.
The Order of Canada was created to in honour of Canada’s centenary in 1967, to recognize merit and service.
Wally Buono named to Order of Canada
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Wally Buono among six British Columbians named to Order of Canada
Sports can be a peculiar thing. When partaking in fiction, like a book or movie, we adopt a "Willing Suspension of Disbelief" for enjoyment's sake. There's a similar force at work in sports: "Willing Suspension of Rationality". If you doubt this, listen to any conversation between rival team fans. You even see it among fans of the same team. Fans argue over who's the better QB or goalie, and selectively cite stats that support their views while ignoring those that don't.
- WestCoastJoe
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Good for Wally.
He is a very positive influence in the community. His rise from difficult circumstances in his youth is admirable.
He is a very positive influence in the community. His rise from difficult circumstances in his youth is admirable.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.
Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.
Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.
Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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What an honour
- Toppy Vann
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A good honour and deserved.
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy