On Wednesday September 20th at the Marriott Hotel in Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier Alumni Paul Giannelia will receive the prestiges Lester B. "Mike" Pearson Award. This award is presented to a "distinguished Canadian citizen of outstanding achievements who participated in university sport."

Giannelia, a former Golden Hawk Football team captain, 1967-1969, has a record of outstanding achievements which best exemplifies the ideals and purpose of interuniversity athletics and amateur sport.

Mr. Giannelia is the President and CEO of Strait Crossing Group Inc. (SCGI) and Strait Crossing Inc. (SCI). He has been involved with most aspects of the construction industry over the past 30 years and his diversified practical experience ranges from labourer to company president.

SCGI focused on the development and implementation of infrastructure projects with an emphasis on transportation related facilities. His company has built the Calgary Olympic Speed Skating Oval.

Most recently, Mr. Giannelia was the Project Director of the $1.0 billion plus Confederation Bridge Project (CBP) which crosses the Northumberland Strait between the Canadian provinces New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Between 1987 and May 1997, Mr. Giannelia was fully responsible for the successful implementation of this entire project.

Mr. Giannelia is currently active as an executive member of Laurier Athletic Alumni Golden Hawk Club and has spearheaded the business plan and fundraising efforts to develop the Laurier Athletics website, www.laurierathletics.com.