Ottawa Pacers Book of Achievement
Jean-Paul Dionne

Founding Member

Category

Elected

Active in speed skating for many years, he was coaching from the early 1960's and was a Pacer coach until the late 1970's.  Former Ottawa Speed Skating Club President, he assisted with the formation of the Pacers Club from 1971.  Harold Costin, OSSA President, believed formation of a second club in Ottawa would increase interest, activity and competition in the sport.  Jean-Paul has acted as Starter, timer and Judge at countless competitions and assisted Walter Dietiker in setting up both the CASSA Time awards and the Ottawa Municipal Skating School that operated for over ten years.

His early competitive achievements are lost but he won the Ontario Closed Outdoor Masters silver medal in 1973 and was provincial champion, veteran and novice gold medalist in 1973.  

He established ISAO outdoor records in 1976; 100m 12.7 sec., 400m 44.6 sec., 500m 53.5 sec., and 800m 1:28.3 min. He also had indoor records of; 400m 48.6 sec., 600m 1:12.3 min., 1000m 2:02.2 min.

Jean-Paul contributed years of personal time to speed skating and was a very valuable contributor to the sport through coaching and athletic talent.