m WP:CHECKWIKI error fix for #61. Punctuation goes before References. Do general fixes if a problem exists. - using AWB (11842) |
Cyberbot II (talk | contribs) Rescuing 2 sources, flagging 0 as dead, and archiving 37 sources. #IABot |
||
Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
== Arrival in Canada == |
== Arrival in Canada == |
||
While Furlong's biographical memoir, ''Patriot Hearts,'' claims he and his family came to Canada from Ireland in 1974,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmpibooks.com/book/patriot-hearts |title=Patriot Hearts - D&M Publishers |publisher=Dmpibooks.com |date=February 12, 2011 |accessdate=November 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.patriothearts.ca/about/ Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country]{{ |
While Furlong's biographical memoir, ''Patriot Hearts,'' claims he and his family came to Canada from Ireland in 1974,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmpibooks.com/book/patriot-hearts |title=Patriot Hearts - D&M Publishers |publisher=Dmpibooks.com |date=February 12, 2011 |accessdate=November 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.patriothearts.ca/about/ Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country] {{wayback|url=http://www.patriothearts.ca/about/ |date=20101122075504 }}</ref> it is now established that he lived in [[Burns Lake, British Columbia]] in 1969 as a [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George|Frontier Apostle]]. During his time in Burns Lake he married Margaret Cook, a kindergarten teacher at Immaculata Catholic School. In June 1970 Furlong and Cook moved from Burns Lake to [[Prince George, British Columbia]] where their first child was born.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straight.com/news/john-furlong-biography-omits-secret-past-burns-lake |title=John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake | Vancouver, Canada |publisher=Straight.com |date=September 27, 2012 |accessdate=November 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/09/27/bc-john-furlong-allegations.html |title=CBC News, Former Vancouver Olympic CEO denies abuse allegations |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=September 27, 2012 |accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/09/28/bc-babine-lake-furlong-allegations.html |title=B.C. First Nation backs RCMP investigation of Furlong - British Columbia - CBC News |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=September 28, 2012 |accessdate=November 14, 2012}}</ref> |
||
== Athletic background == |
== Athletic background == |
||
Line 96: | Line 96: | ||
* [[Doctor of Laws]] (''honoris causa''), [[University of British Columbia]] (2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.graduation.ubc.ca/ubc-vancouver/honorary-degrees/john-furlong/ |title=UBC honorary degree citation |publisher=Graduation.ubc.ca |date= |accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref> |
* [[Doctor of Laws]] (''honoris causa''), [[University of British Columbia]] (2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.graduation.ubc.ca/ubc-vancouver/honorary-degrees/john-furlong/ |title=UBC honorary degree citation |publisher=Graduation.ubc.ca |date= |accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref> |
||
* [[Doctor of Technology]] (''honoris causa''), [[British Columbia Institute of Technology]] (2010)<ref>[http://www.bcit.ca/news/releases/newsrelease06211000000001.shtml BCIT Convocation 2010]{{dead link|date=November 2012}}</ref> |
* [[Doctor of Technology]] (''honoris causa''), [[British Columbia Institute of Technology]] (2010)<ref>[http://www.bcit.ca/news/releases/newsrelease06211000000001.shtml BCIT Convocation 2010]{{dead link|date=November 2012}}</ref> |
||
* [[Doctor of Laws]] (''honoris causa''), [[Justice Institute of British Columbia]] (2010)<ref>[http://www.jibc.ca/aboutJIBC/media/2010_releases/2010_Honorary_Degree%20Media%20release.pdf JIBC News Release]{{ |
* [[Doctor of Laws]] (''honoris causa''), [[Justice Institute of British Columbia]] (2010)<ref>[http://www.jibc.ca/aboutJIBC/media/2010_releases/2010_Honorary_Degree%20Media%20release.pdf JIBC News Release] {{wayback|url=http://www.jibc.ca/aboutJIBC/media/2010_releases/2010_Honorary_Degree%20Media%20release.pdf |date=20101217155817 }}</ref> |
||
* B.C.'s Sportsman of the Decade (2010)<ref name="OBC"/> |
* B.C.'s Sportsman of the Decade (2010)<ref name="OBC"/> |
||
* Outstanding sports executive of the year - Sports Media Canada Achievement Awards (2010)<ref name=GM>{{cite news|author=Nick Rockel |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/25/the-25/john-furlong-welcomed-the-world-to-vancouver/article1762596/ |title=John Furlong welcomed the world to Vancouver |publisher=Theglobeandmail.com |date= |accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref> |
* Outstanding sports executive of the year - Sports Media Canada Achievement Awards (2010)<ref name=GM>{{cite news|author=Nick Rockel |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/25/the-25/john-furlong-welcomed-the-world-to-vancouver/article1762596/ |title=John Furlong welcomed the world to Vancouver |publisher=Theglobeandmail.com |date= |accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref> |
Revision as of 04:27, 1 February 2016
John Furlong | |
---|---|
Chief executive officer of Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games | |
In office February 21, 2004[1] – December 31, 2010 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Tipperary, Ireland | October 12, 1950
Nationality | Irish Canadian |
Occupation | Sports administrator |
Website | johnfurlong |
John Furlong, OC,[2] OBC[3] (born October 12, 1950)[4] is a Canadian sports administrator. He is the executive chair of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He was the president and CEO of VANOC which oversaw the preparation and execution of the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics Games. Prior to his appointment as the CEO of VANOC, he chaired the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation (2001–2004), president of Arbutus Club, a members-only family club, member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, chair of the BC Summer Games and BC Winter Games, and Sport B.C.[3]
Arrival in Canada
While Furlong's biographical memoir, Patriot Hearts, claims he and his family came to Canada from Ireland in 1974,[5][6] it is now established that he lived in Burns Lake, British Columbia in 1969 as a Frontier Apostle. During his time in Burns Lake he married Margaret Cook, a kindergarten teacher at Immaculata Catholic School. In June 1970 Furlong and Cook moved from Burns Lake to Prince George, British Columbia where their first child was born.[7][8][9]
Athletic background
Furlong participated in international level basketball, European handball, and squash. He became Canadian Squash Champion in 1986. He was schooled at St. Vincent's C.B.S., Glasnevin, Dublin.[10]
Olympic and Paralympic Games
In the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Games, Furlong chaired the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation (2001–2004). After becoming president and CEO of the Organizing Committee, he was responsible for preparing and marketing the events. Hours before the formal opening of the Olympic Games, Furlong had to begin managing the crisis regarding the controversial death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. Furlong had been involved in directing improvements to the luge track construction.[11][12][13]
Post-Olympics
In the aftermath of the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot, Furlong was appointed, along with Douglas Keefe, to independently examine the incident and to offer recommendations. The report, The Night the City Became a Stadium: Independent Review of 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup Playoffs Riot, was published on September 1, 2011.[14]
On April 11, 2012, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced the hiring of Furlong as executive chair of the club, a position he currently holds.[15]
Abuse allegations
Georgia Straight newspaper
On September 26, 2012, the Georgia Straight newspaper published an article by journalist Laura Robinson, reporting that that Furlong physically and mentally abused children during his time as a physical education teacher at Immaculata Catholic School in Burns Lake.[16] The article claimed support from over 45 statements, including eight sworn affidavits, from former students.[16] Furlong held a press conference and released a written statement denying the article's abuse allegations.[17]
Additional allegations
In 2013 civil actions, three former students alleged that Furlong abused them sexually, physically, and verbally and that school officials, the diocese, and archdiocese did nothing to intervene.[18][19]
Robinson added to the allegations in her response to Furlong's defamation action. A woman, understood to be a former wife, gave a statement alleging forced sex, verbal abuse, and emotional abuse during their marriage. Robinson also cited statements that reveal that Furlong had physically and emotionally abused another former wife.[20]
Legal problems
Abandoned legal actions
In November 2012, Furlong filed and eventually dropped defamation suits against the Georgia Straight newspaper and Laura Robinson.[21] Georgia Straight and Robinson were awarded legal costs.[22] Robinson's article remains live and unaltered on the Georgia Straight newspaper's website.[23]
In July 2013, two former students filed civil lawsuits in British Columbia Supreme Court against Furlong, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, the Roman Catholic Prince George Diocese, and the Catholic Independent Schools Diocese of Prince George. A third former student filed suit in September on similar grounds.[19]
Jason Gratl, the Vancouver lawyer who had represented all three accusers, withdrew his services following the collapse of two cases.[24][25] Without legal representation to move the case forward, the final complaint was withdrawn.[26]
Robinson versus Furlong
On January 28, 2014, Robinson filed a notice of claim for defamation against Furlong and TwentyTen Group in BC Supreme Court.[27] The trial took place in June 2015. In her September 2015 decision, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge dismissed Robinson's defamation claim citing Furlong's qualified privilege to make statements "that might otherwise meet the legal definition of defamation."[28]
That decision has come under scrutiny by Furlong's accusers who were excluded from the trial and by some members of the media, who felt the judge disregarded a journalist's right to report on issues of public interest.[29] Furlong's accusers filed a complaint January 8, 2016 with the Canadian Judicial Council identifying examples of incorrect information in the written decision.[30][31]
Publications
Furlong recounts his experience leading up to and throughout the Games in his book, Patriot Hearts. Co-authored by Globe and Mail journalist Gary Mason, this autobiography describes how he led the Games through difficulties such as the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, a global recession, and the washed out snow at Cypress Bowl.
Furlong claims in Patriot Hearts that he arrived to Canada in 1974. No mention is made of his time in Burns Lake (1969–70) where he met his first wife[32] and is alleged to have abused First Nations students.[33] His book also excludes his time in Prince George (1970–72) where his first child was born. Furlong has stated that his time in Burns Lake was "fairly brief and fairly uneventful."[34]
In response to the Georgia Straight revelations, Gary Mason, Furlong's Patriot Hearts co-author stated, "I have been asked if John Furlong ever mentioned working in Burns Lake for several years before 1974 during the course of our interviews for Patriot Hearts. I can say he did not. As for the rest of the allegations in a Georgia Straight article about John, I have no knowledge and can't speak to them. Patriot Hearts was John Furlong's Olympic memoir. Any questions about it arising from the article written by Laura Robinson are best directed to John."[35]
Awards
- Officer of the Order of Canada (May 6, 2010)[36]
- Order of British Columbia (2010)[37]
- Olympic Order (2010)[38]
- Paralympic Order (2010)[39]
- Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), University of British Columbia (2010)[40]
- Doctor of Technology (honoris causa), British Columbia Institute of Technology (2010)[41]
- Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Justice Institute of British Columbia (2010)[42]
- B.C.'s Sportsman of the Decade (2010)[3]
- Outstanding sports executive of the year - Sports Media Canada Achievement Awards (2010)[43]
- 25 Transformational Canadians (2010)[43]
- Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award (2010)[44]
- Canada's Most Influential Sport Figure (2009)[3]
- BC Sports Hall of Fame Inductee - W.A.C. Bennett Award (2004)[45]
- The Globe & Mail as Canada's Nation Builder (2010)[citation needed]
- Canada's 2010 Marketer of the year (2010)[citation needed]
- Sports Media Canada's Sports Executive of the Year (2010)[citation needed]
- Vancouver SkyTrain railcar 308 dedicated as "In the Olympic Spirit of John Furlong". It is the first time a SkyTrain railcar has been named after a person. (2010)[46]
Published works
- Furlong, John; Mason, Gary (2011). Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country. Douglas & Mcintyre. ISBN 978-1553657941.
References
- ^ CBC Sports (February 21, 2004). "Furlong chosen CEO of Vancouver 2010". Cbc.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ "Order of Canada Citation". Gg.ca. May 6, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ a b c d orderbceditor (January 15, 2009). "Order of BC Citation". Orderofbc.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ "CANOE - Canadian Online Explorer - Canada's news, sports, entertainment, finance and lifestyle site". Blogs.canoe.ca. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
- ^ "Patriot Hearts - D&M Publishers". Dmpibooks.com. February 12, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
- ^ Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country Template:Wayback
- ^ "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake | Vancouver, Canada". Straight.com. September 27, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
- ^ "CBC News, Former Vancouver Olympic CEO denies abuse allegations". Cbc.ca. September 27, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ "B.C. First Nation backs RCMP investigation of Furlong - British Columbia - CBC News". Cbc.ca. September 28, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
- ^ Selley, Chris (October 2, 2012). "Chris Selley on the John Furlong affair: How to ruin a reputation". The National Post. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Cole, Cam (February 12, 2015). "Five years on, Vancouver Games' tragedy still haunts Olympic organizer". The Financial Post. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ Mackin, Bob (January 10, 2014). "Luge tragedy remains the darkest legacy of 2010". Metro News. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ "Excerpts from 'Patriot Hearts' by John Furlong". National Post. February 8, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ "Vancouver Riot Review". Pssg.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ "John Furlong named executive chair of Whitecaps FC". WhitecapsFC.com. April 12, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
- ^ a b "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake". Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ "Furlong Goes on Offensive". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "John Furlong's former students file lawsuit against ex-VANOC CEO". cbc.ca. July 24, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "John Furlong, former VANOC CEO, faces 3rd sex abuse lawsuit - British Columbia - CBC News". Cbc.ca. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ^ Keller, James (January 22, 2013). "Reporter adds to allegations against ex-Olympics head John Furlong". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "John Furlong Sex Abuse Claim Questioned After Court Documents Revealed". December 30, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
- ^ "Furlong drops defamation suit, but journalist will pursue counterclaim". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake". Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "John Furlong Lawsuit Dropped, Accuser Fails To Appear in Court". The Huffington Post.
- ^ "John Furlong lawsuit dropped after complainant fails to appear in court". cbc.ca. March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Lawsuits against former Vancouver Olympic CEO Furlong in doubt". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "Reporter sues John Furlong for defamation in latest legal back-and-forth". CTVNews. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "John Furlong wins court battle against journalist". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "COLOUR BLIND: The Truth you still don't know about Reconciliation". National Observer. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ "Letter to Canadian Judicial Council regarding Justice Wedge's dismissal of Furlong case". Scribd. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "Former Furlong students file complaint against B.C. Supreme Court judge". National Observer. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake". Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Keller, James (January 22, 2013). "Reporter adds to allegations against ex-Olympics head John Furlong". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ "'I Categorically Deny' Abuse Allegations". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Mackin, Bob (September 27, 2012). "Furlong's co-author Mason says he was told nothing about Burns Lake | The Hook". The Tyee. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "Governor General announces 74 new appointments to the Order of Canada". Gg.ca. June 30, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ^ COS Admin (January 15, 2009). "2010 Recipient: John Furlong – Vancouver". Orderofbc.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ^ John Huet (March 1, 2010). "Thank You And Merci Vancouver!". IOC. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ^ "The Paralympic Order". Paralympic.org. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ^ "UBC honorary degree citation". Graduation.ubc.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ BCIT Convocation 2010[dead link]
- ^ JIBC News Release Template:Wayback
- ^ a b Nick Rockel. "John Furlong welcomed the world to Vancouver". Theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ "Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2010 Citation". Canadianimmigrant.ca. November 13, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ "BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Citation". Bcsportshalloffame.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ^ "Translink news release, John Furlong, Olympic Spirit honoured on SkyTrain car". Translink.ca. September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.