Standing – Left to right: Nolan Kuhlberg, Iain Thomson, Ian McAllister
Seated – Left to right: Poppy Thomson, Chantal Abbott
(Not In Attendance – Lauren Alexander)
OFSAA and members of the Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship Fund were on hand for a special awards reception on Friday. Five of the six honourees and their families were on hand at the Emerald Hills Golf Club in Stouffville, Ontario.
These student-athletes, with a track and field or cross country pedigree in high school, will continue their post-secondary education at a Canadian college or university. The scholar-athletes display qualities of honesty, integrity, compassion and an unwavering quest to accomplish the best academically and athletically while supporting fellow team members. These were all qualities of Brian Maxwell. Each recipient will receive $5,000.
The scholarship fund is in memory of Brian Maxwell, a successful distance runner. Brian competed in track and field and cross country and achieved success as an OFSAA champion, and a Canadian junior, juvenile and senior champion. In 1980, he was selected to the Canadian Olympic team and later became a successful entrepreneur who, with his wife, Jennifer, co-founded the nutritional supplement PowerBar.
Brian was born with a defective heart valve and in 2004, at only 51 years of age, died of a heart attack.
OFSAA is proud to offer the Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship each year to support students continuing their education in Canada.
Congratulations and best of luck!
Meet our exceptional 2024 recipients:
Chantal Abbott
Chantal is heading to the University of Victoria to study Kinesiology and compete for the Vikings in cross country and track & field. She has an impressive athletic background, having competed in seven OFSAA championships in high school, with highlights including a fifth-place finish in the 3000m and an eighth place finish in the same event in Grade 10.
Chantal is an Ontario Scholar and received an entrance scholarship at UVic for her academic achievements.
In addition to her track and field and cross-country accomplishments, she was a member of her school’s Nordic ski team, where she won two OFSAA gold medals. She was also involved in her school’s soccer team and environmental club. Beyond school, Chantal has volunteered as a coach with the Collingwood Clippers Swim Club, where she also served as a swim instructor and head lifeguard. She is a competitive swimmer who enjoys hiking, camping, and cooking. Her coaches admire her discipline, perseverance, and leadership, noting how she inspires those around her with her passion for sports.
Lauren Alexander
Lauren Alexander is a remarkable student-athlete from Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa. She has qualified for OFSAA track and field and cross-country events eight times, with notable achievements such as a 7th and 14th place finish individually and a silver and 6th place in cross-country over the past two years. In track, she placed 5th in the 800m and 7th in the 1500m as a Grade 10 student. Recently, she finished 16th in the U20 3000m at the Athletics Canada Championships in Montreal.
In addition to her track and field accomplishments, Lauren is a well-rounded athlete who has represented her school in hockey, touch football, and nordic skiing. Academically, she is an Ontario Scholar and will be attending Western University, where she plans to study Engineering and Medical Sciences.
Lauren’s contributions extend beyond athletics and academics. She has served as Co-President of the Glebe Student Council and has been involved in a program that integrates students with developmental delays into sports. Her community involvement includes volunteering at the Caldwell Family Centre, helping with the “Out of the Cold Supper” group, working at summer camps for the Royal City Soccer Club, and assisting with a group that sponsored a refugee family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In her spare time, she enjoys baking and outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and biking.
Nolan Kuhlberg
A dedicated athlete, he’s a seven-time qualifier for OFSAA in cross country and track & field. His standout moment in cross country was helping his junior team win OFSAA gold in 2021, where he placed 28th individually. In Grades 11 and 12, his school team placed fourth each year, with Nolan finishing 56th and 83rd. On the track, he achieved 17th in the 1500m and 14th in the 800m this past June in London and also qualified for the 1500m in Grades 10 and 11.
Nolan’s leadership qualities are well-recognized, with his high school coach describing him as the undisputed leader of the cross-country team, not just through his performances but through his unwavering support for his teammates. He was also named MVP of his school’s hockey and badminton teams and earned both the LEP Male Athlete of the Year and the Colin Hood OFSAA School Sport Award. He’s known as a natural leader—honest, kind, and driven.
Beyond his school achievements, Nolan’s compassion shines in his community work, including assisting a neighbor through a challenging health situation. He’s an avid alpine skier who coaches U-8 and developmental programs at his local club, as well as coaching with his local track and field club, all while managing the demands of school and sports.
Nolan is set to attend Wilfrid Laurier University this fall, where he’ll be enrolled in the Biochemistry and Biotechnology program.
Ian McAllister
Ian McAllister is heading to the University of Victoria this fall to study Kinesiology. He has an exceptional background in cross country and track & field, having won the OFSAA Cross Country Championship twice in a row (2022 and 2023). His team also achieved significant success, winning the OFSAA Senior Boys’ title in 2022 and earning a silver medal in 2023. On the track, Ian placed third in the 1500m in London and third in the 3000m and 11th in the 1500m in 2023. He was also selected to represent Canada at the World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championship in Serbia this past spring, where he finished as Canada’s top finisher by placing 46th in the world.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Ian has been active in school, participating in wrestling, playing in the strings orchestra, and joining various clubs, including house league sports as well as skiing, and fishing.
He volunteers as a developmental coach at the London Ski Club and with the London-Western Track and Field Club. Ian’s hobbies include skiing, biking, golfing, cooking, hiking, fishing, and beekeeping, where he produces honey production for gifts and sales. His coaches admire his ability, coachability, and dedication to his team.
Iain Thomson
With an impressive track record in cross country and track & field, Iain Thomson has qualified for OFSAA eight times. In cross country, Iain placed 11th, 26th, and 12th individually over the past three years, leading his school to 11th, 5th, and bronze medal finishes. On the track, he placed eighth in the 3000m and 11th in the 1500m this past June. In Grade 11, he was 16th and 12th in the same events and finished 12th in the 3000m in Grade 10. Recently, he finished 6th in the 3000m at the U20 Athletics Canada Championships.
At school, Iain has been active as a Valley Advisor, mentoring younger students and contributing to school spirit. He also served on the DVSS Athletic Council and was a Global Connect Leader, a role that taught him valuable skills in responsibility, organization, and preparedness. He played school badminton, participated in many intramural sports, and was a captain for the cross country and track & field teams.
In his community, Iain volunteered at the Salvation Army and served as a race marshal through his club. He co-founded the Instagram account @runnercycle with a coach to give away lightly used running attire to those in need.
Looking forward, Iain is heading to McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business to study Commerce. He is interested in pursuing a career in business, particularly in the stock exchange, while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental preservation.
Poppy Thomson
Poppy Thomson is a standout student-athlete from Adam Scott Collegiate in Peterborough and a seven-time qualifier for OFSAA track & field and cross country. Her achievements include a sixth-place finish in the 2000m steeplechase this past June, and in Grade 10, she placed fifth in cross country and 10th in both the 1500m and 3000m. An Ontario Scholar, Poppy is heading to St. Francis Xavier University this fall to study Human Kinetics and compete for the Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams.
Poppy’s athletic involvement extends beyond track and cross-country, having participated in volleyball, badminton, lacrosse, nordic skiing, and hockey teams at her school. She has also been part of the LEAD Sports SHSM program, which focuses on leadership opportunities.
In her community, Poppy has contributed by assisting with the Peterborough Pride Parade, working with the Pathway Project (an environmental program for children), and volunteering with the Peterborough Relay for Life organization. Outside of school, she enjoys canoeing, camping, biking, swimming, skating, skiing, and crafts. Her coaches commend her gritty resolve and skill, earning her Athlete of the Year and MVP honors at her school.
Poppy is especially proud of her work with the Kate Lynch Scholarship Fund, where she helps raise money to provide educational opportunities for Tanzanian girls. She also volunteers at the New Canadian Centre in Peterborough, supporting refugees as they transition to life in Canada.
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