The three recipients will be celebrated later this season
for their outstanding contributions to Canadian golf
Oakville, ON – Three accomplished contributors to Canadian golf will be acknowledged for their dedicated efforts to the game as the 2026 recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.
Long-time Golf Canada volunteers Roger Beach of Oakville, Ont., Brenda McIlwaine of Belvedere, P.E.I. and media producer Jamie Reidel of Kitchener, Ont. will be acknowledged for their contributions to Canadian golf.
“Golf Canada is proud to honour Roger Beach, Brenda McIlwaine and Jamie Reidel as our 2026 Distinguished Service Award recipients,” said Adam Daifallah, President, Golf Canada. “Their commitment and dedication to supporting our sport is truly impactful and is felt across our country. Their work continues to leave a remarkable impact on golf in Canada, and we are proud to honour and recognize them for their significant contributions.”
Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually since 1993 to recognize individuals who have had an outstanding impact on Canadian golf either nationally or within their community.
The announcement of the 2026 Distinguished Service Award honourees coincides with Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting, conducted virtually on Wednesday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
The presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to this year’s honourees will be celebrated later this season at events and locations to be determined.
Golf Canada 2025 Distinguished Service Award Honourees:
Roger Beach (Volunteer) – Oakville, Ont.
Roger Beach has been an instrumental contributor to Golf Canada Heritage Services since joining as a volunteer in 2015. His most notable contribution has been helping to restore, curate and digitize the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, devoting one to two days a week over the past decade. He has also been a valued contributor in planning and executing external Hall of Fame events, including the annual Induction Ceremony. His commitment to volunteerism is also made evident in his creation of a database that incorporated the past 28 years of Golf Canada volunteers from across the country along with their related committee memberships. In addition to his work with Heritage Services, Beach has served on several Golf Canada standing committees including the Investment Committee (2017-2021), Human Resources Committee (2018-2020) and Governance Committee (2021-2024). In 2020, Beach was appointed a Governor of Golf Canada and was a member of the organization’s Diversity and Inclusion Alliance. He later joined the Audit and Risk Management committee in 2025. On leaving school, Beach joined the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), in St. Lucia which ultimately led to a 42+ year career with the bank that included posting to South America, other Caribbean islands and London, England. He was transferred to Toronto in 1985. Beach is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified General Accountant (CGA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and holds the internationally recognized Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA) professional accounting designations from the United Kingdom (UK). Beach is also the recipient of the Order of Niagara for his volunteer work and community outreach with St. Jude’s Anglican Church in Oakville, Ont.
Brenda McIlwaine (Volunteer) – Belvedere, P.E.I.
Brenda McIlwaine’s contributions as a volunteer to the growth of golf in Atlantic Canada have been exceptional and most impactful through her work in Handicap and Course Rating. McIlwaine has been an active volunteer and course rater with the Prince Edward Island Golf Association (PEIGA) since 2007. She was later invited to join the Association’s Board of Directors, serving as a Board member from 2008-2018, including two terms as President (2015-2017). In addition, she served as a member of Golf Canada’s Governors Council and the National Course Rating Committee. McIlwaine was a mentor to members of the PEIGA Course Rating team during her time on the Committee. She attended multiple national and regional training courses where she shared her valued knowledge and experience. McIlwaine has also been an avid supporter of advancement of the women’s game, coordinating the PEIGA Senior Ladies Tour from 2010-2017. While coordinating the tour, she also focused on promoting the sport for women and partnered with member courses to allow the tour to play across P.E.I. As a champion for women’s golf and development, she started the “Girls Golf Camp” in 2016. What initially started with one facility and 20 participants has now grown to multiple locations across the province. McIlwaine’s extensive volunteer resume has seen her serve on numerous committees over the years and her love for the sport has directly led to membership growth, particularly in female participation in her home province. In addition, McIlwaine served two terms as president of the women’s branch at Belvedere Golf Club in Charlottetown (2012-13 and 2025-26). Today, McIlwaine remains dedicated to her passion in handicapping and course rating and continues to support members and golf facilities within the PEIGA.
Jamie Reidel (Media) – Kitchener, Ont.
For more than 25 years, Jamie Reidel has been an influential force for golf coverage in Canada. Working as a lead producer with TSN/Bell Media, Reidel has played a pivotal role in bringing the game to life for Canadian audiences, delivering in-depth coverage of the sport’s biggest moments and its top players. Leading a team of talented hosts, reporters, camera operators and production staff, Reidel has shaped the way golf is covered and presented across a number of platforms including television, radio and social media. His work brings Canadians in-depth coverage of both the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open and golf’s most prestigious events, highlighted by TSN’s extensive coverage of The Masters, as well as The Players Championship, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. Together with Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Weeks, the duo has covered more than 100 golf championships for TSN/Bell Media. Beyond live event coverage, Reidel has produced thousands of reports for TSN SportsCentre and Golf Talk Canada ensuring Canadians stay informed about the game’s biggest names and stories. He has been instrumental in showcasing Canadian golf talent, providing coverage of legends like Mike Weir and Lorie Kane and today’s stars including Brooke Henderson, Nick Taylor, Corey Conners and many others. In addition to his extensive production work, Reidel has demonstrated a strong commitment and collaboration with Golf Canada. Whether producing or adjusting content to highlight Canadian success stories, Reidel has been a trusted partner dedicated to elevating the profile of Canadian golf. While his work is largely behind the scenes, his impact is undeniable and his contributions have profoundly shaped how golf is consumed in Canada.
The post Golf Canada to recognize Volunteers Roger Beach, Brenda McIlwaine and Media Producer Jamie Reidel with it’s 2026 Distinguished Service Awards first appeared on Golf Canada.