Tigers announce Sandy Young Award winners

The Dalhousie Tigers are pleased to announce that Diane MacKenzie and Adam Sarty will be receiving the Sandy Young Award at our Hall of Fame induction celebration on May 8.

Diane MacKenzie and Adam Sarty are pillars of the Halifax swimming scene, continuing to give back and volunteer their time at meets at a range of levels.

An associate professor and the coordinator for interprofessional education in the faculty of health, Diane dabbled in basketball and volleyball growing up, but found success in cycling. During her undergraduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan, she was named to Team Saskatchewan for the 1985 Canada Summer Games in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Adam was also at the 1985 summer games but did not cross paths with Diane until later in life. A cross country and middle-distance runner, Adam raced for the University of Saskatchewan and was a member of Team Canada at the 1983 Cross Country World Championship in Gateshead, England.

Fast forward a few years and the pair have welcomed daughters Julia and Isabel. After moving to Nova Scotia, Diane and Adam enrolled the girls in swimming lessons at the Bedford Lions Pool. Shortly after the girls joined the Bedford Beavers swim team and Diane and Adam kicked off their volunteer journey.

They started their officiating careers with the Bedford Beavers and moved on to support the Halifax Trojans and the Dalhousie Tigers as Julia and Isabel progressed in their swimming careers. In 2014 Diane started to advance beyond the local area to the national level in officiating. She has been on the deck for Canadian trials for the Commonwealth, World Championship and Olympic games selection meets. In January 2024, Diane was one of three referees from Canada nominated to the Pan Am Aquatics List #5.

Although Julia and Isabel have closed their illustrious careers in the Dalplex pool, you can still find Diane and Adam at Swim Nova Scotia, and Atlantic University Sport meets – Adam in the “perch” running the electronic timing system and Diane on the deck as a referee. The enjoyment of watching swimmers reach their goals of best times, compete in their first events, and hitting standards, is a highlight that keeps them coming back.

Diane and Adam will be honoured at the Hall of Fame induction celebration on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in the Dalhousie Arts Centre.

Event details:
5:30-7pm - Pre-ceremony reception with light refreshments in the Sculpture Garden at the Dalhousie Arts Centre
7-9:15pm - Induction celebration in the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
9:15pm-12am - Afterparty in the Grawood, Dalhousie Student Union Building

Ticket Information:
Tickets are $50+taxes and fees. Guests can purchase their tickets online at the link above or at the Box Office at the Dalhousie Arts Centre.