Equine Canada has named Michael Gallagher of Lakeside, NB, the 2004 Volunteer of the Year.

Demonstrating enormous commitment to equestrian sport in Canada, Gallagher is a past competitor, coach, horse show organizer and Equine Canada Official. He has been involved in all areas of the Federation for many years.

Gallagher has been actively involved in the New Brunswick Eventing Association and became their National Director for Horse Trials Canada. He eventually became President of Horse Trials Canada, and was on the Board of Directors of the CEF, now Equine Canada.

After the recent restructuring of the CEF, he became Chairman of Canadian Eventing Committee, Chairman of the EC International Committee, as well as, Chairman of the Eventing High Performance Committee.

For the past four years, he has been a Director of the Canadian Olympic Committee representing Equestrian on the Board of Directors. In August of 2004, Gallagher was the Team Leader for all three Equestrian disciplines at the Athens Olympic Games.

Gallagher’s tremendous experience at all levels of Equestrian Sport and his remarkable volunteer commitment to the organization make him an exceptional choice for the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2004.

"I am very honoured to receive this award. No single volunteer can make much of a difference and I share this award with my volunteer colleagues in Canadian Eventing, UNCART and the Olympic Committee. We have many great volunteers in this organization and it has been my pleasure to work with them," remarked Gallagher. "I do not think the Equine Canada should be thanking me for my work at the Olympics. I should be thanking the association for a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget."

The Volunteer of the Year Award, sponsored by B.F. Lorenzetti & Associates (Ontario) Inc., was created in 1998 to recognize an outstanding volunteer who has contributed to equestrian sport in Canada. It is an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of individuals who give so generously of their time in order to support the goals and vision of Equine Canada. Michael Gallagher was honoured with Volunteer of the Year Award at the annual Equine Canada Awards Banquet held Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, in Ottawa, ON.