Each Wednesday for a five-week period from June 5 to July 3, one of the newly minted inductees to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame will be profiled. In our fifth and final installment for the Class of 2024, read about Geraldine Dubrule [BSc (PE) '57], who will be inducted into the builder category.
 
Geraldine Ann Dubrule was born May 28, 1931 in Ottawa and later, after retirement in 1993, moved to Kingston, Ont. A pioneer in women's sports at McGill, she served 34 years at the University's Athletics department, as a teacher, referee, coach and administrator, from 1960 to 1993.
 
A product of Prescott High School, "Gerry" went on to McGill, where she joined the Beta Psi sorority and was a multi-sport athlete during her undergraduate years, from 1949 to 1957. She competed on numerous women's intercollegiate teams, including riflery, soccer, hockey, basketball, hockey, synchronized swimming, volleyball, swimming and was also part of the modern dance club.
 
After earning a science degree in physical education (1957), she followed that with a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1964. During a period where women's athletics was not well-supported at the university level, Dubrule was a one-woman show, coaching six sports and serving as an official in four of them. Among the teams that she coached was basketball, synchronized swimming, soccer and swimming.

She served three decades as the aquatics coordinator at the University's Weston Pool and sat on numerous administrative boards, including the McGill Women's Athletics Association, the Women's Athletics Board and the Student Athletics council. She served four years with the Quebec Sports Federation and a pair of one-year terms as president of Synchro Quebec (1960 and 1961).

Dubrule played a key organizing role in the annual McGill Water Show fundraiser for many decades and mentored the McGill synchro team (now known as artistic swimming) to its first-ever championship, winning back-to-back Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Association (OWIAA) banners in 1982-83 and 1983-84. Among the many athletes that she coached on campus were Canadian Olympians Penny and Vicky Vilagos, both of whom were previously inducted to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1988, Dubrule was the recipient of a Synchro Swim Canada certificate of merit, presented to individuals who have contributed significant volunteer service. The following year, the same organization recognized her with a Board of Directors Pin Award, for making a significant contribution as a volunteer to the development and betterment of the sport for 25 years or more.
 
In 1994, shortly after retiring, she received the McGill Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award, presented to an alumnus who has rendered outstanding service to the University. In 2003, she was the recipient of a YWCA Women of Distinction Award, for the sports and wellness category, which recognizes the role of women in the advancement of society, through their commitment and achievements in their respective fields, while having a positive and lasting impact in society.

And arguably the most significant honour, the Canadian University Artistic Swim League has presented its national champions with the Geraldine Dubrule Trophy since its founding year in 2001.
 
Other laureates accompanying Dubrule in the McGill induction class of 2024 include hockey players Cathy Chartrand (B.Ed '12) of Lac Nominingue, Que., and Alexandre Picard-Hooper (B.Com '12) of Boucherville, Que., rugby's Brianna Miller (B.Ed '14) of Pointe Claire, Que., and football's Randy Chevrier (B.Ed '01) of St. Leonard, Que.
 
Founded in 1996 and located inside Tomlinson Hall at the Sir Arthur Currie Gymnasium on Pine Avenue West, the pantheon now has 180 honoured members, 31 of them Olympians. This year's induction luncheon is slated for Friday, Oct. 25, as part of McGill Homecoming 2024, and will be held at Le Windsor ballroom on Peel Street. Ticket information will be announced in early September.

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (cell)
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca