Smith-Valade became romantic partners. The couple have shared a home since early 2014. Awards (2009) – BC Sports Hall of Fame Inductee – W.A.C. Bennett Award (2004) (2009) – Canada's Most Influential Sport Figure (May 6, 2010) – Officer of the Order of Canada (2010) – Order of British Columbia (2010) – Olympic Order (2010) – Paralympic Order (2010) – Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), University of British Columbia Doctor of Technology (honoris causa), British Columbia Institute of Technology (2010) – Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Justice Institute of British Columbia (2010) Doctor of Tourism & Hospitality (honoris causa), Niagara University, New York City (2010) – B.C.'s Sportsman of the Decade (2010) – 25 Transformational Canadians (2010) – Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award (2010) – The Globe & Mail as Canada's Nation Builder (2010) – Canada's 2010 Marketer of the year (2010) – Sports Media Canada's Sports Executive of the Year (2010) – SkyTrain railcar 308 dedicated as "In the Olympic Spirit of John Furlong". It is the first time a SkyTrain railcar has been named after a person. (2011) – President's Award from BC Economic Development Association. Published works References External links VANOC Biography Patriot Hearts Opening Ceremony Speech for 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Transcript of Opening Ceremony Speech for 2010 Olympic Winter Games Transcript of Closing Ceremony Speech for 2010 Olympic Winter Games Robinson v. Furlong, 2015 BC Supreme Court Reasons For Judgement Living people 2010 Winter Paralympics 2010 Winter Olympics Presidents of the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games Recipients of the Olympic Order Officers of the Order of Canada Members of the Order of British Columbia British Columbia Institute of Technology alumni Canadian sports executives and administrators Canada at the Olympics People from County Tipperary Irish emigrants to Canada 1950 births