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One builder, one athlete added to RMC Athletics Wall of Distinction

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One builder and one athlete were added to the Royal Military College Athletics Wall of Distinction in a virtual ceremony on Thursday night.

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Bill Oliver, a longtime staff member of the college and a booster of RMC athletics for decades, was inducted in the builders category while Marilyne Caroline Lafortune, a fencer for the Paladins from 2004 to 2007, was inducted as an athlete.

Hockey player Steve Molaski, RMC’s all-time leading scorer, was inducted in 2019 and was the keynote speaker at the virtual event on Thursday evening. He missed his 2019 induction ceremony as he was deployed overseas.

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The inductions bring the total members of the wall to 17. The Wall of Distinction was created in 2017 after an endowment from RMC’s class of 1970.

Oliver was RMC’s senior physical education officer and recreation instructor from 1981 to 1988 and director of athletics from 1988 to 1991. He was also the hockey convener for Ontario University Athletics from 1989 to 1991 and 1996 to 2004.

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After retiring from the college, Oliver continued to support RMC athletics as the editor of eVeritas.

Darren Cates, the current director of athletics, described Oliver as someone who gave him insight and background on RMC Athletics issues.

“I came to value his opinions and advice, and Bill became one of my closest confidants, and I consider him one of my most important mentors,” Cates said.

“Bill has had a profound impact on RMC and in the greater Canadian Armed Forces in general, and we all benefit to this day from his efforts.”

“Joining the likes of Danny McLeod, Doug Hargreaves, Earle Morris and other distinguished individuals as builders is truly an honoured and humbling experience at the same time,” Oliver said during the virtual ceremony.

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“I also recognized fully that so many people that I have been associated with and others at RMC deserve this award more than I do, and that will keep me grounded for sure.”

Marilyn Lafortune, a former Royal Military College Paladins fencer, was inducted into the RMC Athletics Wall of Distinction on Thursday.
Marilyn Lafortune, a former Royal Military College Paladins fencer, was inducted into the RMC Athletics Wall of Distinction on Thursday. Photo by Submitted /Submitted

Lafortune was a four-time OUA all-star after taking up the sport as a second-year student at RMC.

RMC’s fencing coach Patricia Howes said Lafortune didn’t know how to take her first individual fencing lesson, but Howes could still see her potential.

“Even though she didn’t know how to take a lesson, I knew immediately that her determination, her motivation and her desire to problem-solve was going to translate into an outstanding athlete in the OUA and for the Royal Military College of Canada,” Howes said.

In 2005, she was the top female athlete at RMC and was the Canadian Forces’ athlete of the year. From 2005 to 2007, she was a three-time OUA gold medallist in individual foil.

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During her time at RMC, Lafortune led the Paladins to three consecutive OUA banners.

A member of the senior national team in 2007, Lafortune won a bronze medal in foil at the Canadian Fencing Federation National Championships.

“I started my dream as a fencer at RMC by chance, really,” Lafortune said in her speech. “I didn’t know anything about the sport, but on that night on the inner field in 2001, I thought why not?”

Lafortune said she depended on her fearlessness and competitive nature.

“I didn’t know what I was doing, but did it with all my heart,” she said.

imacalpine@postmedia.com

twitter.com/IanMacAlpine

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