July 2, 2015 - The Lynda Garland "Award for Excellence" was presented for the seventh time at the Canadian Baton Twirling Championships in Oshawa, Ontario. The recipient of Lynda Garland's "Award for Excellence" was Joyce Ormshaw of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

At the 2008 Canadian Championships in Moncton, NB, the CBTF recognized Lynda Garland's years of service to Baton Twirling in Canada and around the world by creating the award that bears her name. Among Ms. Garland's many accomplishments, she was one of the founders of the Twirl Canada organization and was its first President from 1979 through 1983. Twirl Canada went on to become the Canadian Baton Twirling Federation (CBTF), which was a charter member of the World Baton Twirling Federation (WBTF) when it was formed. Lynda served as President of the World Baton Twirling Federation between 1983 and 2008.

Ms. Garland established the criteria for the new award. The Lynda Garland "Award For Excellence" is presented to a Canadian Baton Twirling Federation (CBTF) Coach who exemplifies excellent, progressive coaching, superior technical abilities and provides innovative ideas and programs.

In presenting the award, Ms. Garland touched on the many highlights of Ms. Ormshaw's career:

Joyce Ormshaw began her baton twirling career at Tec Voc High School where she was part of the “Drill Team”. Soon after joining this team, she was promoted to a Lead Majorette position. She then became head of the Baton and Drill Team. Her passion for the sport soon took hold and she decided to be a baton coach. Because there were no baton clubs in Manitoba, she had to attend a camp in Dells, Wisconsin for three consecutive summers to get her NBTA coaches and judging courses.

She began her coaching career in 1957 at the Northwood Community center and has coached at many clubs in her long career, most recently at Greendell. During her coaching years, she started many clubs, coached in many different venues and ran many summer baton workshops and camps. She has coached at the recreational level and at the competitive level. Many of her students have represented her club at the Manitoba Provincials, Canadians, International Cup and Worlds. Some of those students include Leisha Strachan and Dana Peteleski. She has inspired many of her former students who have started their own clubs and have gone on to be some of Manitoba's top coaches.

Throughout her lengthy career, Joyce has obtained many certifications. She is a CBTF level 3 Coach, and a CBTF certified Judge. She is also a certified CBTF coach’s course conductor and a CBTF certified Skill Development Program Adjudicator and Skill Development Program Course conductor. At the international level, Joyce was an NBTA Certified Judge as well as an IBTA certified judge. Joyce officiated at many CBTF Canadian Championships (and Canadian Team Trials), only stopping while she was serving on the CBTF executive.

Not only has Joyce dedicated her time and energy to coaching and officiating, she was also involved in the sport as a board member. She has served many years on the MBTSA board as Vice President, Coaches Representative, Sanction`s Officer (when needed) and was MBTSA’s Representative to Sport Manitoba. In 1979-1984, Joyce was involved on the MBTSA committee who lobbied to get Baton twirling recognized as a Sport by Sport Manitoba; this committee was successful and we have Joyce to thank for that. During the years that she did not sit on the MBTSA board, she was volunteering her time with the CBTF board of directors. She was the CBTF Board of Directors Vice President for Western Canada, and CBTF advisor to MBTSA BOD (1984-1988), and from 1992-2002 was the CBTF First Vice-President. Aside from being involved on these boards, Joyce took the time to organize NCCP courses for the Manitoba coaches, organized and taught `Competition Training Sessions` (for volunteers working at Manitoba competitions) and wrote an article for Sport Manitoba’s Fair Play on the role of the Athlete, Parent and Coach.

Joyce has been an inspiration to many twirlers in Manitoba and elsewhere. She dedicates her time and energy to her students, encouraging them to be the best they can be while offering a shoulder to cry on when things don’t go as planned. She is often the biggest cheerleader on the sidelines when a “no drop” takes place.

CERTIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

• CBTF Canadian Baton Twirling Federation Level 3 Certified Coach
• CBTF Coaches Course Conductor 1984 – 90
• NCCP Level 2 Coach
• Member of the Sport MB Coaches Association

RECORD OF COACHING (Includes Recreational & Competitive)

• Northwood Community Centre (Northwood Strutters) 1957 – 75
• Orioles C.C. (Orioles Majorettes & Drum Corps) 1968 – 1979
• Riverview C.C. 1969 – 72
• Coached many Individuals and Canadian Champions & Canadian Representatives to the Worlds, 2003 to 2014
• Manitoba Baton Twirling Sports Association Coaches Representative
• 1990 - Organized (in conjunction with Coaching MB) the NCCP Level 1 Coaches seminar.

HONOURS

• 1989 - Finalist in Coaching Manitoba's "Coach of the Year", High Performance Category
• 1997 - Finalist in Coaching Manitoba's "Coach of the Year", Developmental Category (Nomination made by MBTSA)
• 2012 - Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal presented at the Manitoba Legislative for all her work in the sport of baton twirling