Sheila Forshaw

50th Alumni Profiles
B.Sc. '83 -
 Sheila Forshaw
Executive Director, Resources, Office of the Vice Provost Students, York University
Career History Since Graduation Field Hockey Ontario (FHO) - Program Coordinator/Executive Director
Ontario Women's Interuniversity Athletic Association (OWIAA) - Executive Director
York University:
* Manager, Interuniversity Sport - Sport & Recreation
* Executive Officer - School of Kinesiology & Health Science/Sport & Recreation
* Executive Director, Resources - Office of Vice Provost Students, Division of Students
Most Memorable York University Experience Winning the first-ever OWIAA Field Hockey Championship beating the CIS number one ranked team, University of Toronto.
Graduating from York's KINE program and being able to come back and work with great faculty, staff and students/student-athletes.
York University Anecdote or Highlight Practising outside in the pitch dark in the early mornings before daylight savings time and telling Marina van der Merwe (head coach and KINE faculty member) that we were running when we were not! Through grit and determination, we won York's first two OWIAA field hockey championships and two CIS silver medals against powerful teams who had many national team members. We won our first championship with one national player, two provincial players, two club players and 10 students pulled from a PKIN class! "Go Yeowomen!" Marina, Kathy Broderick and Mary Lyons were the best! I can still hear Mary's voice..."COME ON, YORK!!"

Running across campus on the first day of class with two other first year classmates to find Vanier College for our Humanities class. Thought we'd found Vanier...it was Winters...raced into the class late...disrupted it...sat down...looked at the syllabus...4th year African Studies...ran out and all we could hear was the high pitched laughter of the 4th year class that we had left behind. I now support the development of York's new electronic way-finding app! KINE is one of the best programs on campus and I loved it (and I did pass Humanities when we finally found it).
Highlight(s) of Professional Career Being given the opportunity to have a career at York that allowed me to provide students with the support and guidance shown to me as a former student and student-athlete. My tremendous pride comes from the York community; working alongside staff and faculty as we guide the next generation of leaders.
Community Involvements/Contributions (Local to International) Was a volunteer coach, administrator (and sometimes official) at the local and provincial sport levels. Have created of a number of bursaries, awards and scholarships for York's students.
Honours and Awards Led York to two OWIAA gold medals and two CIAU (now CIS or U) silver medals. Playing career highlights included All-Canadian selection four times, Most Valuable Player at the CIAU National Championship, York's female Athlete of the Year twice, national team member from 1976 to 1988 and selection to three Canadian Olympic teams.

As a former student-athlete was named to York's Sport Hall of Fame in 2001 and inducted into the Mississauga Sport Hall of Fame. As an administrator received York's President's Leadership Award and the Bryden Alumni 'Local Hero' Award. Currently a member of York's Board of Governors.