The Athletics Wall Of Distinction (AWOD) was established to honour those who have brought distinction to the Canadian Military Colleges (CMC) through significant achievements and contributions in sport while at a CMC and/or following graduation throughout their athletics careers. The AWOD program was conceived by the Class of 1970 and is supported through an endowment funded by the Class to honour its entry into the Old Brigade in the fall of 2015.
The RMC Athletic Department celebrated the most recent inductees to the Athletics Wall of Distinction (AWOD) this past March. The 2025 induction class welcomed three new members, comprised of two athletes and one team. With inductees and family all on hand, there was plenty to celebrate.
The first of the three to be honoured was 11338 Bruce Barteaux.
An avid runner, Barteaux enters the AWOD in the athlete category. Having competed in multiple World Championships and Commonwealth Ultramarathon Championships, running has taken Barteaux all over the globe. Inducted into the CAF Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, Barteaux was then recognized just one year later as the 2008 CAF Sports Male Athlete of the Year. He has earned numerous first place finishes, while also setting multiple Canadian age group records in the six-hour and 24-hour races.
Following Barteaux’s speech, which highlighted the many events he has competed in, as well as the support of his family, it was the 1968 men’s soccer team’s turn to be inducted.
The RMC men’s soccer team was recognized for its exceptional accomplishments during the 1968 Ottawa St. Lawrence Athletic Association fall season. The team had a record setting season in terms of RMC varsity athletics, and was composed of 11 players from RRMC, 2 from RMC and 5 from CMR St-Jean. The ten game season in OSLAA saw RMC finish with an impeccable record of 9 wins and 1 tie, recording four shutouts and limiting the opposition to a single goal in four other encounters. RMC would score 35 goals during the year, while only conceding eight. As there was no regional or national university soccer championship as it exists today, the RMC season ended with the OSLAA championship. The team’s performance that season set a standard rarely achieved by any major team sports team at RMC since World War II.
Rounding out the 2025 class, 10929 John Czich was the final member to take the stage.
Czich, will also enter the AWOD in the athlete category. A badminton player, Czich earned plenty of recognition at RMC. In 1976, he was named recipient of both the Tommy Smart Cup and the H.R.H The Prince of Wales Cup. After leaving RMC, Czich would compete with the Canadian senior team from 1976-1982. He won silver medals in men’s singles at the Commonwealth Games in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980, as well as a silver medal in the mixed team event in 1978. He also won a gold medal at the Pan American Championship in men’s doubles in 1977. At the National Championships, John won a gold medal in men’s singles in 1979, a gold medal in men’s doubles in 1981 and a silver medal at in men’s doubles in 1982.
Finally, being unable to attend her induction the previous year, former Paladins basketball star 23803 Jennifer Donofrio was also formally presented her 2024 induction plaque on this night.
AWOD Selection Committee Updates
The AWOD Selection Committee is made up of members representing various eras at the college (from the 1950s through the 2010s), as well as former Athletic Directors and current Athletic Department staff members. These individuals volunteer their time to review the nominations and proceed with the annual selections for induction.
We wanted to thank the following ‘retiring’ committee members for their time and effort over the past several years, namely Bob Swan (former Athletic Director at CMRSJ from 1976-80) and Alex Pym (RMC hockey player from the 2010s).
The AWOD Selection Committee is actively seeking replacements for these positions, so if you are interested in being involved with the Athletics Wall of Distinction, please feel free to submit your interest to [email protected].