Photo courtesy Swimming Canada

George Gate (left), with Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean, recently received the Order of Canada for his service and contributions to Canadian swimming.

George Gate, a well-decorated member of Swimming Canada in the coach/builder category, recently received the Order of Canada (member grade) for his contributions to Canadian swimming.

Gate, who accepted the honour at an investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall presided over by Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean, was one of 32 Order of Canada recipients and is considered a trailblazer in the Canadian competitive swimming community.

His career began as the manager and lifeguard of the amateur swim club in Ocean Falls, B.C., where he developed a variety of coaching methods and training techniques that eventually became standard practice across Canada.

Gate has been Canada's national swim team coach at several national and international competitions, including the Canada Games (1954), Pan Am Games (1963), Olympic Games (1968) and World Championships (1973). His swimmers won several national competitions and set several Canadian records.

In 1966, Gate became the aquatic director and head swim coach at the Pointe-Claire Aquatic Centre in Quebec, where he turned the local pool into a world-class swimming and diving facility and developed unique programs for novice and disabled swimmers.

In 1982, Gate was inducted into Canada's Aquatic Hall of Fame and a year later he entered Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. In 1989, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) as an honour coach.