2019 COMMISSIONER’S AWARD PRESENTED TO JIM LAWSON
“CFL Chair’s passion, dedication and hard work have made the CFL stronger” – Commissioner Ambrosie
“As the Chairman of our Board of Governors since 2013, Jim has Canadian football in his DNA and the CFL’s best interests always at heart,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. “No one works harder behind the scenes on the league’s behalf, passionately, constantly and effectively.”
Lawson has helped three Commissioners – Ambrosie, Jeffrey Orridge and Mark Cohon – shepherd the league through challenging, exciting and rapidly changing times. Twice, he served as the acting Commissioner while assisting in the search for a new chief executive for the league.
He has been called upon over the years to help the league seize new opportunities, manage emerging issues and broker important deals. He has been involved in the sale of franchises, helped recruit sponsors and talent, and chaired and helped guide the board, which is made up of club owners, chairs and presidents.
"I am humbled and honoured by being presented the Commissioner's Award,” said Lawson. “My family has been intricately involved with the CFL for four generations and that dedication stems from wanting to give to a sport that is part of our fabric as a nation. I value the rich history of the CFL and how it unites our country through its passionate fan base and tremendous athletes."
Lawson’s father Mel played quarterback for the 1943 Grey Cup-winning Hamilton Flying Wildcats – a legendary war era team made up of servicemen, many of whom lost their lives before World War Two concluded.
His grandfather, Charles, owned the Hamilton Wildcats and was a leading figure in the merger of the Wildcats and Hamilton Tigers in 1950, which resulted in the modern-day incarnation of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“A successful lawyer and business leader, Jim has contributed to his family’s legacy and our country’s sporting tradition in many remarkable ways,” Ambrosie added. “He was a draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1978 and played two years in their system before retiring to pursue law. He has been CEO of the Woodbine Entertainment Group since 2015 and has put his creative and innovative stamp on horse racing in this country. But it is his dedication to Canadian football and the CFL that we celebrate with this award.”
The Commissioner's Award is presented annually by the Commissioner of the Canadian Football League to an individual who has demonstrated dedication and made a significant contribution to Canadian Football.
The award was first introduced in the 1990 CFL season. Past winners include Wally Buono, Ron Lancaster, Russ Jackson, Hugh Campbell and Bernie Custis.
The Shaw CFL Awards is one of the highlights of the 2019 Grey Cup Festival presented by Shaw. In addition to the awards, several ticketed events are on-sale now. Additional event details, dates and purchasing information can be found at GreyCupFestival.ca.
The 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2019 in Calgary at McMahon Stadium, and broadcast across Canada on RDS and TSN – the country’s most-watched specialty network. This year’s championship will mark the fifth time Calgary has hosted the game and the first since the 97th Grey Cup in 2009. A limited number of tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.ca/GreyCup.