John (Jack) Pelech
2005 Gallery of Distinction Inductee
An athlete and fitness enthusiast from the outset, John (Jack) Pelech changed the face of amateur sport in Canada. A graduate of McMaster University, he was the guiding force behind the establishment of the Canada Games. He helped launch the Participaction campaign, and he chaired bids for several high-profile sporting events, including the World Cycling Championships that came to Hamilton in 2003. A successful lawyer, Jack has also been acclaimed for his volunteer work in amateur sport and was awarded the Governor General’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, received an honorary degree from McMaster University, and was Hamilton’s Citizen of the Year in 1987.
