There is a very good reason a portrait of Dr. John Byl, Professor Physical Education at Redeemer, is hanging from the rafters of the Hamilton Convention Centre — in a ceremony on September 28, he was honoured by SportHamilton with induction to the City of Hamilton’s Sport Hero Banner Series. This award is presented to an individual for “their outstanding contribution to sport in the Hamilton community Nationally and Internationally as an athlete, coach official or builder.” Also receiving the award was football great Garney Henley. Dr. Byl was recognized for his two decades of volunteer work supporting athletes and athletics in Hamilton. His community involvement included service on the Parks and Recreation Citizen’s Advisory Committee and with SportHamilton, Hamilton’s sports council, where he served as president for three years. In her induction address, Helen Downey, the current president of Sport Hamilton, said this Dr. Byl: “This award is certainly one of the most important and prestigious recognitions of the evening, as it represents someone who has been an outstanding athlete, a major contributor or builder to sport in the City of Hamilton. The first recipient … is also a past President of Sport Hamilton. He began volunteering for the City of Hamilton in 1987 where he was a founding member of the Hamilton Sports council. Also at that time he was a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council, he was also involved in the first trip to the International Children’s Games in the Ukraine. He was also a member of Senior Citizens Center feasibility now known as Sackville Senior Center. He was also a key member of the Spirit of Sport Task Force to reduce violence in sports. He was also a member of the Physical Activity Network and served as a translator at the 1994 games for the team from the Netherlands. An accomplished author and foremost authority on scheduling tournaments . He is currently a professor and chair of the Physical Education/Kinesiology Department at Redeemer University College and the President of CIRA Ontario.” The honour was also noted in the Hamilton Spectator. The students, faculty, staff and alumni congratulate Dr. Byl on his award, and for the commitment to the broader community that it represents.