Suggitt’s legacy continues through memorial award

By Lethbridge Herald on January 18, 2024.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns wants to highlight  the importance of donating to the Rick Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award.

The award is in memory of  former women’s rugby coach, Ric Suggitt, who  passed away in 2017 and left behind an immense impact.

The annual scholarship recognizes a player from the women’s rugby team that displays exceptional leadership both on and off the field.

“This award isn’t just about the money, which of course is important and can be life changing for a student-athlete, it also speaks to everything we value in Pronghorn Athletics,” said Neil Langevin, Pronghorn Athletics athletic director.

“The story behind this award and why it came to be is about making the world around you better, about impacting people’s lives and creating a legacy of giving and community. Each scholarship recipient will know that story and the responsibility that comes with this award and that’s a powerful lesson to learn. We couldn’t be more appreciative of the Boulet family and all the donors to this award who have made this happen.”

Toby and Bernadine Boulet, who have been deeply entrenched in the Pronghorn community for 30 years, jumped at the opportunity last year to make a generous donation of $20,000 to the award, which amounted to $10,000 over two years.

The contribution established a permanent endowment.

“So really his time at U of L wasn’t very long, but his impact was massive because he’s left an impact on many, many employees and student-athletes that were in and around him,” said Toby.

Toby said Ric was a larger than life figure to the sports at U of L.

“We needed a coach that could actually command attention when they walked into the room and Ric’s that kind of person,” said Toby.

The Boulet’s son, Logan, was inspired to become an organ donor by Suggitt who was an organ donor himself.

Logan passed away  in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash and his organs were donated and saved six lives.

Suggitt held coaching positions with the Canadian National Women’s Team, the Canadian National Men’s Team, the U.S. Women’s 7’s team and with the Pronghorns women’s rugby team.

Donations to the award will be matched by U of L’s board of governors as a part of the $10-millon pledge to student awards.

Contributions to the award can be made atgohorns.ca/sluggo.