From
Swim Ontario Awards Banquet 2005.
Tom Pinckard started swimming at the age of 5 and continued to swim while living in Brazil, and later while in high school at Ridley College in St. Catherines. He went on to become the captain of the University of New Brunswick swimming and football teams and was honoured with the University’s award for Athletic Distinction. Tom’s athletic interests were multi-faceted, and he received honours not only in swimming, but also in soccer, football, and canoe/kayak. He still holds the CIAU football record for the longest kick (89 yards), and was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes. While at UNB, Tom coached the women’s swim team, with the honoraria received helping to pay his way through law school. In 1967 Tom paddled across Canada in the Voyageur Centennial Canoe Race from Alberta to Montreal.
He graduated in law in 1969, was called to the Bar in 1971, and has been a practicing lawyer in Huntsville ever since. In 1976 Tom founded the Muskoka Aquatic Club in Bracebridge and was its volunteer Head Coach for 10 years while spearheading the construction of the Huntsville Centennial Pool, which opened in 1986. Volunteering has always been a substantial part of his very busy life, and it still is. A long list of positions of leadership include the following: Director - Ontario Swimming Coaches Association; Chair - Huronia Region; Director and Vice-President - Swim Ontario (CASA – Ontario Section); Chair (6 years)- Swimming Canada; volunteer CEO - Swimming Canada; Member - Canadian Olympic Committee; Vice-President - Commonwealth Games Association of Canada; President - Aquatic Federation of Canada; President - Aquatic Foundation of Canada; President - Swimming Canada Foundation; and the list goes on! Tom pursued other interests as well. He was the Mayor of the Township of Lake of Bays and Councilor for the District of Muskoka (both from 1994 through 2003); Chair - Huntsville Memorial Hospital; Director - Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, Chair - Huntsville Parks & Recreation Committee; and Trustee - Muskoka Board of Education. All organizations benefited greatly from Tom’s dedication and expertise and he has received a plethora of awards for his contributions to Canadian swimming, and sport in general. Among them are the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame - Award of Distinction, the Province of Ontario - Award of Distinction; Inductee (Builder) - Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame; Canada 125 Medal; Air Canada Volunteer Coach of the Year; Swimming Canada Volunteer Coach of the Year; and the Canadian Centennial Medal.
Tom and his wife of 35 years, Dayle, reside in Dwight near Huntsville. They have two sons, Todd and Dan, as well as 2 daughters, Sarah and Emily. Swimming still runs in the family as Emily is a varsity swimmer at University of Ottawa and Tom trains as a Masters Swimmer. The Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame was proud to induct Tom Pinckard as a Builder. The Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of so many, but knows there are many others deserving of the honour.
1943 - (80 years)
Siblings
d. 1997 (Age 78 years) 
. Sarah PINCKARD