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John Furlong, OC, OBC (born October 12, 1950) is a Canadian sports administrator who oversaw the
2010 Winter Olympics )'' , nations = 82 , athletes = 2,626 , events = 86 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = February 12, 2010 , closing = February 28, 2010 , opened_by = Governor General Michaëlle Jean , cauldron = Catriona Le May DoanNancy GreeneWayne Gretz ...
and
2010 Winter Paralympics ) , nations = 44 , athletes = 506 , events = 64 in 5 sports , opening = 12 March , closing = 21 March , opened_by = Governor General Michaëlle Jean , cauldron = Zach Beaumont , stadium = BC Place , winter_pr ...
and was President and
CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC). Furlong is
chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...
of
Rocky Mountaineer Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian rail-tour company based in Vancouver that operates luxury scenic trains on four rail routes in British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado, and Utah. History Via Rail Canada The Rocky Mountaineer concept was created b ...
, corporate director of
Canadian Tire Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is a Canadian retail company which operates in the automotive, hardware, sports, leisure and housewares sectors. Its Canadian operations include: Canadian Tire (including Canadian Tire Petroleum gas stations a ...
, volunteer chair of Own the Podium and a public speaker. Furlong first visited Canada as a physical education teacher and missionary at two Catholic day schools from 1969 to 1972 in the Canadian province of British Columbia in the communities of Burns Lake and Prince George, it has been reported he physically and emotionally abused multiple children while at those schools. At the conclusion of his teaching term he returned to Ireland and served as a sports administrator at
Newpark Comprehensive School Newpark Comprehensive School () is a mixed, Church of Ireland, state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newsp ...
before emigrating to Canada in 1975. He was also president of the Arbutus Club, a member of the
Canadian Olympic Committee The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC; french: Comité olympique canadien) is a private, non-profit organization that represents Canada at the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is also a member of the Pan American Sports Organization ...
, and head of the
BC Summer Games The BC Summer Games are an amateur sporting event held every year biennially in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The next games are scheduled to be held in Prince George in July 2022. See also * BC Games **BC Winter Games *Canada Games ...
,
BC Winter Games The BC Winter Games are an amateur sporting event held in British Columbia, Canada on every other (even-numbered) year. The next BC Winter Games are scheduled to be held in Greater Vernon, BC from March 23 to 26, 2023. History The BC Games da ...
and Sport B.C. He has cited Canada as being possibly unique in appointing an immigrant to be CEO of their Olympic Games. His performance and leadership in the Canadian Sport community and specifically in the highly successful staging of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games led to him receiving the
Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...
and
Order of British Columbia The Order of British Columbia (french: Ordre de la Colombie-Britannique) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier B ...
as well as numerous honorary degrees. After the Games, accusations of errors and omissions in his autobiography and abuse allegations were published dating back to his years as a missionary and teacher. Furlong has vehemently denied all the allegations.


Olympic and Paralympic Games

Furlong chaired the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation (2001–04) and pitched Vancouver in
Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
in its bid to the International Olympic Committee to host the Winter Games.


Post-2010

Furlong was chair of Own the Podium, a Canadian not-for-profit organization created several years before the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games to develop Canada as a world leader in high performance sport. With Own the Podium support Team Canada won a record 26 medals at the Vancouver Olympic Games including an historic 14 gold medals. Furlong spoke at the
World Hockey Summit The World Hockey Summit was an international ice hockey conference held in Toronto on August 23–26, 2010. It was arranged by the International Ice Hockey Federation, Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, the National Hockey League (NHL), the Canadian Ho ...
in 2010, and felt it was important to maintain
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
participation at the Olympics and find a solution to concerns the league had. With respect to the deal arranged for the 2010 Olympics, he stated that "The fans would never forgive you. That's what I think should be driving you to a solution". In the aftermath of the
2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot The 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot was a public disturbance in the downtown core of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on the evening of June 15, 2011. The riot broke out almost immediately after the conclusion of the Boston Bruins' win over ...
s, at the request of then-Premier Christie Clark John Furlong and Douglas Keefe provided 53 recommendations in their September 2011 report, ''The Night the City Became a Stadium: Independent Review of 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup Playoffs Riot''. Furlong served as advisor to the organizers of the
2015 Canada Winter Games The 2015 Canada Winter Games, officially known as the XXV Canada Games, is a Canadian multi-sport event that was held from February 12 to March 1, 2015, in Prince George, British Columbia. Sports Alpine skiingPrince George, British Columbia Prince George is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, with a population of 74,004 in the metropolitan area. It is often called the province's "northern capital" or sometimes the "spruce capital" because it is the hub city for ...
. In July 2016, the
Canadian Olympic Committee The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC; french: Comité olympique canadien) is a private, non-profit organization that represents Canada at the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is also a member of the Pan American Sports Organization ...
(COC) announced that Furlong will chair the Special Committee for Home Games (SCHG) to assist
Calgary Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...
if it decides to bid to host the
2026 Winter Olympics ) , nations = , athletes = , events = 116 in 8 sports , opening = 6 February 2026 , closing = 22 February 2026 , opened_by = , cauldron = , stadium = San Siro Verona Arena , wint ...
. In November 13, 2018 plebiscite, a majority of Calgary citizens voted against hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics. Within a week of that non-binding plebiscite, Calgary City Council voted to shut down the bid. In July 2017, Furlong joined the
Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...
bid committee for the
2022 Commonwealth Games The 2022 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Birmingham 2022, was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations that took place in Birmingham, England bet ...
. In August 2017, Victoria's bid was cancelled after the provincial government declined financial support. In October 2017, Furlong and Victoria bid committee chair David Black attempted to revive Victoria's bid. In an opinion column published by Victoria News, a
Black Press Black Press Group Ltd. is a Canadian publisher of prominent daily newspapers in Hawaii and Alaska and numerous non-daily newspapers in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and (via Sound Publishing) the U.S. state of Washington. Black Press M ...
news site owned by David Black, Furlong expressed his support for Victoria's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. There is no evidence that the provincial government reconsidered its decision. In an April 2021 speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, Furlong pitched a plan to bring the Winter Olympic Games back to Vancouver in 2030. Furlong claimed that existing facilities would serve as venues, that a wider group of B.C. municipalities would participate, and that the 2030 Games would be fully funded by the private sector. The 2030 Games concept evolved to an Indigenous-led plan (Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations) with the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the municipalities of Vancouver and Whistler. John Furlong was not involved. On October 27, 2022, the British Columbia government announced it would not support a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Concern about Furlong's past was cited as possibly factoring in the failure of his plan.


Business activities

In 2010, Furlong joined the board of Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. With the sale of Whistler Blackcomb Holdings to Vail Resprts in 2016, Furlong's term on the board ended. In 2016, Furlong and Gareth Rees led Rugby Canada's bid for Vancouver's to host the World Rugby Sevens World Series event. He continues to chair the annual tournament. Furlong is chairman of
Rocky Mountaineer Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian rail-tour company based in Vancouver that operates luxury scenic trains on four rail routes in British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado, and Utah. History Via Rail Canada The Rocky Mountaineer concept was created b ...
, a rail tourism company based in Vancouver and board member with its owner Armstrong Group Ltd. Since 2011, Furlong has served as a member of the corporate board of
Canadian Tire Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is a Canadian retail company which operates in the automotive, hardware, sports, leisure and housewares sectors. Its Canadian operations include: Canadian Tire (including Canadian Tire Petroleum gas stations a ...
retailer. He is also board chairman of the Canadian Tire charitable organization, Jumpstart, that funds youth sport called. As a paid keynote speaker, Furlong is a member of the
National Speakers Bureau National Speakers Bureau is an Illinois-based speakers bureau. The firm, founded in 1972 by John Palmer, is currently led by Brian Palmer, who assumed the presidency in 1996. History After working as a band leader for twenty years, John Palmer ...
.


Controversies

John Furlong had been the subject of some controversy following accusations of errors and omissions in his autobiography and legal actions arising from abuse allegations.


Biographical inaccuracies and omissions


Patriot Hearts

On February 12, 2011, the one-year anniversary of the Olympics, Furlong, with ''
Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
'' journalist Gary Mason, published his autobiography ''Patriot Hearts – Inside the Olympics'' ''that Changed a Country.''


= 1974 Dublin Bombings

= Furlong cites May 14, 1974 as the date of the Dublin bombings. In fact, the Dublin bombings occurred on May 17. Furlong wrote that Jack Furlong, his father, identified the body of his niece, Siobhán Roice, after she was killed in the Dublin bombings. Siobhán's family strongly denied this. Records from the investigation of the bombing list Ned Roice, not Jack Furlong, as attending. Johanna Roice, Siobhán's mother, is misnamed Josephine in ''Patriot Hearts''. Furlong wrote that the bombings in Dublin and deaths of his cousin and his father (June 1974) prompted his 1974 emigration to Canada. In fact, Furlong returned to Canada over a year following these events, in 1975.


= Visiting missionary years

= ''Patriot Hearts'' asserts that Furlong first arrived in Canada in 1974. In fact, Furlong first lived and worked in Canada from 1969 to 1972. He later emigrated in 1975. Under cross-examination, Furlong admitted only that he did not arrive in 1974. Furlong's visiting teacher and missionary years (1969–72) are excluded from ''Patriot Hearts''. The timeline coincides with allegations that he abused First Nations children in
Burns Lake Burns Lake is a rural village in the North-western-Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, incorporated in 1923. The village had a population of 1,779 as of the 2016 Census. The village is known for its rich First Nations heritage, and ...
(1969–70). Furlong had been a Frontier Apostle missionary (1969–72) at schools in
Burns Lake Burns Lake is a rural village in the North-western-Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, incorporated in 1923. The village had a population of 1,779 as of the 2016 Census. The village is known for its rich First Nations heritage, and ...
and Prince George, British Columbia. In June 1972, Furlong returned to Ireland following threats against his life. ''Patriot Hearts'' co-author Gary Mason has stated that Furlong never mentioned his visiting teacher and missionary years in Canada.


= Return to Canada

= Furlong wrote that he had been a "young teacher with just two years' experience" in 1974 when he accepted a job with Prince George College (a high school). In fact, the year was 1975. He accepted the position with five years' experience: Immaculata Roman Catholic School and Prince George College (1969–72), and
Newpark Comprehensive School Newpark Comprehensive School () is a mixed, Church of Ireland, state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newsp ...
(circa 1972–75). Furlong wrote that a recruiter visiting Ireland invited him to set up a high school athletic program in Prince George. In fact, Furlong was well known to his recruiter, now known to be Bishop Fergus O’Grady of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George The Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George ( la, Dioecesis Principis Georgensis) was created as the Vicariate Apostolic of Prince Rupert on January 14, 1944, when the Vicariate Apostolic of Yukon-Prince Rupert was split. It is a suffragan of the ...
, who operated Immaculata and Prince George College among other Catholic residential and day schools in British Columbia.


= Employment at Newpark Comprehensive School

= Furlong has never discussed his employment at
Newpark Comprehensive School Newpark Comprehensive School () is a mixed, Church of Ireland, state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newsp ...
in Dublin Ireland (circa 1972–75). During this time, George Gibney, the disgraced former Irish national swim team coach, also managed athletics at the Newpark. In 1976, Furlong told a reporter only that he had managed a government sports centre in Ireland before returning to Canada.


Athletic career

Biographies attached to his speaking engagements and awards such as the
Order of British Columbia The Order of British Columbia (french: Ordre de la Colombie-Britannique) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier B ...
state that Furlong was the 1986 Canadian Squash Champion. In fact,
Jamie Hickox Jamie Hickox (born 8 February 1964 in Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , makin ...
won the 1986 title. John Furlong was among the age-group winners.
Squash Canada Squash Canada is the national sport association responsible for the development of athletes, coaches and officials in Canada. Founded in 1915, Squash Canada sets the Canadian standards for Squash and works with partners to promote the growth and ...
does not recognize Furlong as the 1986 Canadian Squash Champion. In the lead up to 1978 Northern B.C. Winter Games, Furlong claimed he had twice competed in the Olympics. There is no evidence that Furlong appeared as an athlete at any Olympics. Under cross-examination Furlong stated he'd never made this claim. In 1975, Furlong stated he had played internationally for Ireland for eight years. This claim is unsupported by a timeline that finds Furlong away from Ireland from age 18 to 20 years (1969–72) and from age 24 (1975 to the present).


Abuse allegations

On September 26, 2012, ''
The Georgia Straight ''The Georgia Straight'' is a free Canadian weekly news and entertainment newspaper published in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Overstory Media Group. Often known simply as ''The Straight'', it is delivered to newsboxes, post-secondary schools, ...
'' published an article that reported allegations that children in the 1970s were physically and mentally abused by Furlong while he was a missionary and physical education teacher at Immaculata Roman Catholic School, a day school, in
Burns Lake Burns Lake is a rural village in the North-western-Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, incorporated in 1923. The village had a population of 1,779 as of the 2016 Census. The village is known for its rich First Nations heritage, and ...
. The article, by sports journalist Laura Robinson, was supported by over 45 statements, including eight affidavits. Robinson's response to Furlong's defamation action included additional allegations supported by witness statements that he emotionally, physically, and sexually abused his first wife. A statement from his second wife alleged domestic violence. Abuse allegations against Furlong have never been heard nor accepted as evidence in court. Three former students, whose experiences were not part of the ''Georgia Straight'' story, alleged that Furlong sexually, physically, and verbally abused them. In 2013, these three former students filed failed civil lawsuits against Furlong, the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver ( la, Archidioecesis Vancouveriensis) is a Roman Catholic Latin archdiocese that includes part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is the Holy Rosary Cathed ...
, the Roman Catholic Prince George Diocese, and the Catholic Independent Schools Diocese of Prince George. Based on changes in information from interviews by the RCMP by one of the accusers, a BC Supreme Court Judge erroneously concluded that the woman had not attended the school where she had accused Furlong of abuse. In fact, the woman had attended the school during Furlong's tenure according to documents presented at a later trial (Robinson v. Furlong). A second woman dropped her civil case after it was deemed unfounded. The third plaintiff, a man, was found to have already received compensation for a claim while attending a different school at the same period as his claim against Furlong. In fact, this man had attended Immaculata during Furlong's tenure.


RCMP

Questions have been raised about the relationship between Furlong and the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal police, federal and national police service of ...
(RCMP) officers who investigated abuse allegations against him. Some of these senior officers had worked closely with Furlong on Olympic security, holding senior or oversight security positions for the 2010 games in Vancouver. These relationships were not revealed and these officers did not recuse themselves from the investigation.


Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

In a December 2016 complaint to the
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (french: Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne, link=no) is an administrative tribunal established in 1977 through the ''Canadian Human Rights Act''. It is directly funded by the Parliament of Canada and i ...
(CHRT), six Northern British Columbia First Nations members formally accused the federal government and the RCMP of racial and ethnic discrimination in their investigation of allegations that John Furlong abused them. The inquiry, scheduled for January 2022, was delayed indefinitely after Furlong requested a judicial review of the CHRT's decision to deny him standing to seek a stay or dismissal of the proceedings. In February 2022, the federal court sealed tribunal evidence to protect Furlong's “dignity and reputation.” By June 2022, three of the six complainants had died. In November 2022, an application for judicial review of a CHRT decision was dismissed in a partially anonymized federal court decision.


University of British Columbia Fundraiser

In January 2017,
University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...
(UBC) president
Santa J. Ono Santa Jeremy Ono ( ja, 小野 三太; born November 23, 1962) is a Canadian-American immunologist and academic administrator, currently serving as the 15th President of the University of Michigan, president of the University of Michigan since O ...
apologized to Furlong for cancelling his keynote address at the February
Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation was a private, independent organization created by an act of the Parliament of Canada in 1998. It received an initial endowment of $2.5 billion from the federal government to provide awards annually fo ...
fundraising event for athletes. Ono announced that UBC had reversed its decision "because it assimply the right thing to do". In response to Furlong's reinstatement as speaker, indigenous professor
Daniel Heath Justice Daniel Heath Justice is an American-born Canadian academic and citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He is professor of First Nations and Indigenous Studies and English at the University of British Columbia. He started his studies at University of Nor ...
quit a UBC committee working on a new sexual assault policy. In a letter to Ono, Heath stated the decision to reinstate Furlong "silenced and erased" abuse allegations against Furlong. Furlong spoke at the sold-out UBC fundraising breakfast, which raised several hundred thousand dollars for University athletic programs. He donated his five-figure speaking fee to the fundraising effort. In October 2017, UBC became the subject of a human rights complaint over its handling of Furlong's speech.


Ongoing advocacy

There has been ongoing advocacy for investigation into abuse allegations against John Furlong. In July 2018 in apparent response to Furlong heading Calgary's 2026 bid exploration committee, the
Assembly of First Nations The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is an assembly of Canadian First Nations (Indian bands) represented by their chiefs. Established in 1982 and modelled on the United Nations General Assembly, it emerged from the National Indian Brotherhood, wh ...
(AFN) passed a resolution calling on chiefs to boycott the bid as a show of support for former residential and day school students. In July 2016, the
Assembly of First Nations The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is an assembly of Canadian First Nations (Indian bands) represented by their chiefs. Established in 1982 and modelled on the United Nations General Assembly, it emerged from the National Indian Brotherhood, wh ...
(AFN) passed a resolution to pressure the federal government and the RCMP to formally investigate multiple abuse allegations against Furlong. In January 2016, a complaint to the
Canadian Judicial Council The Canadian Judicial Council (CJC; french: Conseil canadien de la magistrature) is the national council of the judiciary of Canada, overseeing the country's federal judges. The Council has 41 members, composed of chief justices and associate chi ...
(CJC) sought to appeal a judge's decision due to incorrect information. CJC dismissed the complaint. In a November 2015 open letter, three First Nations hereditary chiefs and five Furlong accusers called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to remove John Furlong from Own the Podium pending a hearing of their claims. Furlong left Own the Podium in July 2018.


Defamation lawsuits

In November 2012, Furlong filed, but later dropped, defamation suits against the ''Georgia Straight'' newspaper and journalist Laura Robinson. Robinson's response to Furlong's defamation action included additional allegations of abuse. Robinson's lawyer accused John Furlong of dropping the suit to avoid public witness testimony. In default judgements, ''Georgia Straight'' and Robinson were awarded legal costs.


Personal life

John Furlong was schooled at St. Vincent's C.B.S.,
Glasnevin Glasnevin (, also known as ''Glas Naedhe'', meaning "stream of O'Naeidhe" after a local stream and an ancient chieftain) is a neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the River Tolka. While primarily residential, Glasnevin is also home t ...
,
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
. In 1970, Furlong married Margaret Cook in Burns Lake British Columbia, Canada. Furlong and Cook are parents to four grown children. In 1979, Furlong lived with Dayle "Dee" Turner in a three-year common law marriage. In 1984, Furlong married Gail Robb and had one child. The couple divorced in 2011. In 2012, Furlong and Deborah Sharp were married until her death in a car accident in Ireland in April 2013. In 2013, Furlong and Renee Smith-Valade became romantic partners. The couple have shared a home since early 2014.


Awards

* (2009) –
BC Sports Hall of Fame The BC Sports Hall of Fame is a museum located in BC Place Stadium, at Gate A, the main entrance to the stadium, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It collects, preserves, studies and interprets materials that relate to British Columbia's spo ...
Inductee – W.A.C. Bennett Award (2004) * (2009) – Canada's Most Influential Sport Figure * (May 6, 2010) –
Officer of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...
* (2010) –
Order of British Columbia The Order of British Columbia (french: Ordre de la Colombie-Britannique) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier B ...
* (2010) –
Olympic Order The Olympic Order, established in 1975, is the highest award of the Olympic Movement. It is awarded for particularly distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement, i.e. recognition of efforts worthy of merit in the cause of sport. Traditi ...
* (2010) –
Paralympic Order The Paralympic symbols are the icons, flags, and symbols used by the International Paralympic Committee to promote the Paralympic Games. Motto The Paralympic motto is "Spirit in Motion". The motto was introduced in 2004 at the Paralympic Games in ...
* (2010) –
Doctor of Laws A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor (LL. ...
(''honoris causa''),
University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...
*
Doctor of Technology The Doctor of Technology (abbreviated variously in different countries) is a degree normally conferred upon candidates after having completed a course of study in technology and a dissertation or a project of lengthy duration in a technologically r ...
(''honoris causa''),
British Columbia Institute of Technology The British Columbia Institute of Technology (also referred to as BCIT), is a public polytechnic institute in Burnaby, British Columbia. The technical institute has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region, with its main campus in Burn ...
* (2010) –
Doctor of Laws A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor (LL. ...
(''honoris causa''),
Justice Institute of British Columbia Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) is a public, post-secondary educational institution in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, that is focused on training professionals in the justice, public safety and social services fields. JI ...
(2010) * Doctor of Tourism & Hospitality (''honoris causa''),
Niagara University Niagara University (NU) is a private Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition in Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. It is run by the Congregation of the Mission and has 3,300 undergraduate students in 50 academic programs. Appro ...
, New York City * (2010) – B.C.'s Sportsman of the Decade * (2010) – 25 Transformational Canadians * (2010) –
Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award The Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards is an annual campaign by Canadian Immigrant (magazine), ''Canadian Immigrant'' magazine that recognizes outstanding work by Immigration to Canada, immigrants who "have come to Canada and have made a positive ...
* (2010) – The Globe & Mail as Canada's Nation Builder * (2010) – Canada's 2010 Marketer of the year * (2010) – Sports Media Canada's Sports Executive of the Year * (2010) – SkyTrain railcar 308 dedicated as "In the Olympic Spirit of John Furlong". It is the first time a SkyTrain railcar has been named after a person. * (2011) – President's Award from BC Economic Development Association.


Published works

*


References


External links

*
VANOC Biography

Patriot Hearts

Opening Ceremony Speech for 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

Transcript of Opening Ceremony Speech for 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Transcript of Closing Ceremony Speech for 2010 Olympic Winter Games


{{DEFAULTSORT:Furlong, John Living people 2010 Winter Paralympics 2010 Winter Olympics Presidents of the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games Recipients of the Olympic Order Officers of the Order of Canada Members of the Order of British Columbia British Columbia Institute of Technology alumni Canadian sports executives and administrators Canada at the Olympics People from County Tipperary Irish emigrants to Canada 1950 births