Hylland reflects on 'eight wonderful years' with the Gee-Gees

“No one cares what you know, until they know that you care.”

Burlington, Ont. (by David Grossman) - The world of amateur sport in Canada got to know Sue Hylland.

She’s that woman with the contagious smile, is competent at amassing information and then combining it with experience and knowledge - and turning it all into progress.

Hylland wasn’t someone who just happened to fill a gap in a company hierarchy. At every opportunity, she was focussed on building accomplishments and prosperity. But it wasn’t to boost her ego. It was always for the betterment of others.

Everywhere she went, Hylland was respected. She made a huge impact and an important contribution to people’s lives, and this impact was recently recognized at the 2024 OUA Honour Awards Banquet.

Hylland was named the conference’s second ever recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award for the tireless contributions she has made to the OUA community in so many ways, but her efforts have extended well beyond her time within Ontario’s varsity sport scene.

And now, after a remarkable 42 years devoted to promoting the benefits of amateur sport, from participation to life skills to camaraderie, Hylland is about to cement her legacy.

After eight years at the University of Ottawa, initially as Director of Sport Services in 2016 to a new classification of Senior Director of Recreation and Varsity Sports, Hylland is about to walk out the door in June of 2024 and enter a new path. It’s called retirement - and more time to devote to her family.

Reminiscing the other day (something she will do quite a bit about her incredible devotion to sports) Hylland stressed the development through sport, the connection between sports, physical health, and the development of individuals.

Building teamwork, combining education and sport, and doing things the right way could be a way of describing her motto.

Oh, there have been plenty of celebrations in the form of championships, medals, awards, and glory, but also lots of exhaustion in delivering a message that excellence just doesn’t come in sports, but partners with a sound record of academics.

Heading up an athletic department isn’t just walking in the door and sitting down in an office.

“It’s like running an Olympic Games or a Canada Games - every day,” she said in a telephone conversation from her campus office. “You find a way to juggle so much to make it all work in a cohesive manner. In many ways, it’s a unique job – and with major responsibilities, especially because we are shaping the lives of young people.”

Born in Chateguay, Que., Hylland attended John Abbot College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Then, it was off to Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Que. where she earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree. Still not finished with education, Hylland received a Graduate Diploma in Sports Administration from Concordia University in Montreal.

It wasn’t just academic honours grades throughout her post-secondary days, Hylland was an exceptional basketball player and was on the National championship team while at John Abbot. At Bishop’s, she was female Athlete of the Year, named to the All-Canadian team, and appears on the school’s Wall of Distinction. There’s more.

She was part of two Quebec university regional championships, and led the Lady Gaiters to two Canadian university medals, including an appearance in the 1981 National championship game.

With success as an athlete, something elicited sports administration as a follow-up.

Back in 1983, that summer internship with the Canadian Olympic Association (COA) ended up being the spark that would produce a career of more than four decades in sport.

“I was ecstatic, just in heaven when that happened,” said Hylland, who celebrated her 65th birthday earlier this month. “I had searched out the internship and welcomed the opportunity to work in the sport technical area. I knew my career right then and there.”

Hylland built on the opportunity and senior leadership roles at the COA for close to 18 years.

Not one to boast personal achievements, Hylland was named to the 2015 list of most influential women in sport by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport (CAAWS). She had been the Executive Director of that same organization.

The Canada Games Council is also on her resume. That’s where she was President and Chief Executive Officer for 14 years, and responsible for the overall management of seven Canada Games. An integral part of every organizational leadership team, Hylland was always a strong advocate for providing equal opportunity for women and men in sport.

While there were times when people tried to explain to Hylland what her devotion to sport meant to them, it wasn’t clear to them what working in sport had meant to her.

“No one cares about what you know, until they know that you care,” said Hylland, who repeats that phrase often to accentuate her admiration for people and sport. “Cherish the people around you, be thankful to everyone. Every job that I accepted, my goal was to embrace it and enhance the experience for others.”

When the University of Ottawa went searching for someone to fill the No. 1 job in the Athletics Department, Hylland had initially turned down the opportunity. After a second chance, about 18 months later, she looked at the big picture, and having achieved so much, she put her signature on the offer.

“I had been a university student, a university athlete and it was rewarding in many ways,” she recalled. “I thought, this could be fun, and a way of emphasizing the importance of sport and academics, creating a positive experience for young people.

“For me, it was elevating, profiling, and making visible the stories of talented students. There was so much to offer and having a long-lasting effect on young people who were learning, participating in sport, and preparing for their futures.”

Hylland can’t praise the University of Ottawa enough for what she called “eight wonderful years”. If she still had one huge priority, it would be getting the university, corporate sponsors, students, and others to develop new sports facilities.

“I will always cherish these moments and the passion for being with great students and staff,” she said. “My time (at the University of Ottawa) has been enjoyable, an unbelievable experience, and a great way to end my career.

“We really did work hard to build a culture of belonging for everyone. Whether it was students on varsity teams, those in recreational programs or engaging in the community, it all translated into success.

“Working with colleagues throughout the university system is something I will always cherish, along with a special relationship created with our friends nearby at Carleton University.”

For Hylland, self-confidence has always been large in her vocabulary.

Confronting situations, Hylland is also a person who doesn’t accept the phrase - ‘It is what it is’.

“You always have to attempt to make things better,” she said. “It’s about perseverance and having patience to deal with challenges, faith in your abilities and taking charge of your journey. Shape the life you aspire to live.”