Oak Bay High Nick Mathers and Dylan Jones Memorial Award
Andrew and Joanne Turner are long-time residents of Victoria, both having attended Oak Bay High School and UVic prior to graduating from UBC in commerce and psychology respectively. Their eldest son Ross graduated from UVic with a Bachelor of Arts before completing his post-graduate studies with a Master of Public Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. Their youngest son Reid has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from the University Of British Columbia. andrew has been on the UVic Foundation Board since 2010.
Both Andrew and Joanne have a strong commitment to academia and physical education and they wish to enable qualified students to achieve their goals both on and off the field. A rugby player has been chosen to receive this award as it was the sport that both honourees were passionate about.
Nick Mathers was the best friend of their eldest son Ross. He was struck and killed by a drunk driver as he made his way home on his bike one rainy evening. Always ready with a grin and a laugh as well as a kind word for the family pets, he was a genuine friend to all who met him. Smart with a bright future ahead of him; a rugby player who so loved the sport and the camaraderie of "the boys" both on and off the turf.
Dylan Jones was a best friend to Reid. From an early age, Dylan demonstrated an amazing ability to perform most any sport, engaging competitively on the field. A loyal and committed friend, he was taken from our lives in 2017, leaving a huge void among those who knew and loved him. A friend and a gentleman.