Michael Groleau receives Tom Cheney Award for his contribution to football officiating

At the 2014 Canadian Football Officials’ Association (CFOA) annual conference, Michael (Mike) Groleau of Hamilton, Ontario was awarded the Tom Cheney Award given for outstanding contribution and service toward the improvement of football officiating in Canada.

He boasts an impressive resume both on and off the field.

Entering his 43^rd year as an official, his career began at the age of 15 officiating flag football, two years later he joined the Lakeshore FOA.

His 28 year on-field career includes 3 CIS Bowl games, 6 Yates Cups, as well as numerous CJFL playoff and championship games, provincial championships, high school and minor football games.

Off the field, Groleau has most recently finished his second term as CFOA President. In addition, he served 8 years as President of the Ontario Football Officials’ Association (OFOA) and is currently in his 4^th year as an advisor. He’s also served on Lakeshore FOA’s executive committee for 17 years.

Mike is passionate about helping develop future generations of officials. He’s a master learning facilitator under the new Officials’ Development Committee. He also serves as a supervisor and evaluator for the OVFL in addition to being a level 4 course conductor at both the CFOA and OFOA levels.

Football Canada would like to congratulate Mike as well as thank him for his many years of contribution to the game and Football Canada.

The Tom Cheney Award was named after the late Tom Cheney, Football official and educator, a member of the Calgary Football Officials’ Association, a field official in all levels of football from minor league to CFL, an original member of the Officials’ Working Committee and the Editor of the Football Canada Officials’ Training Manual.

His coordination of the material for the Manual was responsible for the excellence of that manual, which is respectfully dedicated to Tom.

After his death, in 1977, the CFOA executive purchased a trophy named for Tom.  In view of his long years of dedicated service to the improvement of officiating, it was decided that the trophy would be awarded bi-annually to the person who most nearly approached the Cheney level.  The Award is, therefore, given for “outstanding contribution and service toward the improvement of football officiating in Canada.”

Year	Winner
2014	Michael Groleau, Hamilton
2012	Walter Barry, Montréal
2010	Jack Anderson, Moncton
2008	Ron Hallock, Winnipeg
2006	Murray Taylor, Toronto
2004	Vern Heath, Calgary
2002	Jack Leitch, Toronto
2000	Ron Walsh, Saskatoon
1998	Bill Glendinning, Moncton
1996	Don Kent, Regina
1994	Bernie Young, Montréal
1992	Dave Shields, Ottawa
1990	Ken Green, Toronto
1988	Tip Logan, Hamilton
1986	Harold Ferguson, Edmonton
1984	Jacques Decarrie, Montréal
1982	Bob Turnbull, Winnipeg
1980	Wayne Fleming, Edmonton
1978	Jack Gurney, Ottawa