Morgan Ramsay Named Recipient of L. Lamont Gordon Spirit Award
CALGARY—Morgan Ramsay has been named the recipient of this year’s L. Lamont Gordon Spirit Award which was created in 2017 and presented annually to a Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton athlete who embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and the following characteristics the late Mr. Gordon demonstrated himself: commitment, generosity, dedication and teamwork.
“I’m truly honoured to receive this prestigious award for our community. The traits this award represents are qualities that I strive for every day, so it is especially meaningful to be recognized for them,” said Ramsay, a second-year member of the National Bobsleigh Program, who received the award from Monty’s son, James, along with the 2023 recipient and fellow brake woman, Leah Walkeden. “Having Leah there to present this to me was extra special. She is an incredible athlete who has taught me everything I know in the sport.”
Nominated by the national program, Ramsay has been relentless in her pursuit of excellence on and off the track since transitioning from playing varsity hockey at Mt. Royal University in Calgary. The 24-year-old Manitoban has been a driving force behind Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton’s mission to create a more positive culture while living by a strong set of values.
“This award is a reflection of all of my amazing teammates that I work with, and all that we strive to be on and off the competitive field of play,” said Ramsay. “They make my job easier and more enjoyable. It’s a team effort, and I’m grateful to be part of such a strong and dedicated group. I want to thank the Gordon family for their ongoing generous support of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton.”
The second-year member of the National Bobsleigh Program, who is pushing Mackenzie Stewart on the North American Cup circuit, has also taken a leading role in welcoming a record number of new team members to the program over the last year, mentoring these rookies in the sport and ensuring all involved in the community honour the team’s values.
“We have learned about Morgan’s fun and positive attitude in our daily training environment, along with her commitment to stepping up to lead by example and support her teammates when things go sideways. This is exactly the great teammate and type of people that we are trying to develop in this program, following the values that Mr. Gordon lived by as well,” said Jesse Lumsden, high-performance director, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, who added the Gordon family donated $1,000 to Ramsay as the award recipient. “No matter the race, the time of day, or how good or bad things are going, Morgan always makes sure to keep things light, stay calm and pull the team together. We can’t think of a better recipient for this special award.”
An accomplished Bay Street business leader and alumnus of Canada’s bobsleigh program, L. Lamont Gordon, who sadly passed away in 2019, financially supported the Canadian bobsleigh and skeleton athletes for more than half a century.
Other recipients of the annual award include: Leah Walkeden; Cynthia Appiah; and the inaugural winner, Joey Nemet.
Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Karbon, Athabasca Oil Corporation in collaboration with Canada Action’s I Love Canada Energy, Joe Rocket and Driving Force – along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops champions in the community, on and off the track, who have a passion for bobsleigh and skeleton. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.