The Diane Wood Special Achievement Award is presented to an individual to recognize an outstanding contribution to volleyball at the provincial level for 15 years or more.
Diane Wood was the kind of volunteer who coordinated adult competitive leagues (8 divisions and more than 100 teams) from her pre-computer-era kitchen table! From the late 60’s, Diane established herself as a 40 year tireless, world-class volunteer, a athlete of 25 years, a National Referee, a Provincial Official’s Chair, a founding member of the Scarborough Solars Volleyball Club in the 70’s, a member of the organizing committee for the first Canadian FIVB beach volleyball event, and an almost 20 year employee at the OVA. Diane began full-time work for the OVA as a program coordinator and retired from her position as Executive Director in 2005. Truly world class!
This years recipients of the Award embrace this same spirit of dedication to the sport of volleyball in our province and it is with great pleasure that we present the 2025 Diane Wood Award winners.
We are proud to present the Diane Wood Special Achievement Award to someone who has made a lasting and multi-faceted impact on volleyball in Ontario — Greg Skotnicki.
Greg’s journey in our sport began in 1985 as one of the very first athletes with Maverick Volleyball. After serving in the Canadian Armed Forces — where he also played varsity volleyball with Royal Roads and Royal Military College — Greg returned to Ottawa and began his coaching career with the Mavericks in 2000. Over the past two decades, he has coached across all age categories and continues to be a guiding force in the club today, now serving as the Vice President of the Ottawa Mavericks Volleyball Club.
Greg’s experience also includes coaching with the Nova Scotia Provincial Team Program, Ontario Regional Programs, and Colonel By Secondary School. But his contributions extend far beyond the court.
A graduate of Queen’s University’s MBA program, Greg has served as President of Region 6 and spent eight years on the Ontario Volleyball Association’s Board of Directors, including time as Vice President of Operations. He played a pivotal role in modernizing the Association — leading efforts in digital transformation, financial operations, and tournament administration. His leadership and vision even caught the attention of Volleyball Canada, where he has since supported national-level operational improvements.
Whether as an athlete, coach, official, or executive, Greg’s dedication to the sport has been unwavering. His thoughtful leadership and long-term commitment exemplify the spirit of this award.
François (Frank) St-Denis began his coaching journey over 25 years ago at École secondaire catholique L’Escale in Rockland, where he quickly built a reputation for excellence, leading his teams to multiple OFSAA titles. In 2005, he joined École secondaire publique Louis-Riel, where he has continued that tradition of success, helping the Rebelles become a powerhouse in school sport for nearly two decades.
Beyond the school gym, Frank has been just as impactful at the club level. With the Ottawa Mavericks, he played a central role in the creation of the club’s High Performance program and helped grow it from 10 teams to more than 30 and is currently their Men’s Post Secondary Development Centre Head Coach. He’s a certified Performance Coach, a passionate educator, and a leader who has mentored countless athletes and coaches over the years.
Frank’s influence extends well beyond his athletes—he is also a dedicated coach developer. As a Learning Facilitator and Coach Evaluator, Frank has helped shape the next generation of coaches across Ontario. His expertise is also recognized nationally, where he contributes to Volleyball Canada’s NCCP program development, helping to advance coaching education from grassroots to high performance.
From 2009 to 2013, he chaired the Regional 6 Athlete Development Program, creating new pathways for youth in Eastern Ontario. He’s also coached at several Ontario Summer Games and Regional Games events, in both indoor and beach disciplines.
Frank has served as Head or Assistant Coach for numerous Team Ontario programs, including Tall Maples, Team Ontario Red and Black, Team O Elite, and the Canada Games team on two occassions. His leadership helped guide Ontario’s men to a bronze medal at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara.
Nationally, Frank brought his talents to Canada’s U21 Junior National Team, serving as assistant coach in 2016 and 2017—further demonstrating his commitment to high-performance athlete development.
Today, he continues to give back to the game as the High Performance Consultant with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, specializing in setter development and team offense.
With over two decades of leadership and mentorship in the Ontario Volleyball community, and a tireless commitment to growing the game, Frank has shaped not just athletes—but the very future of volleyball in Ontario and beyond.
The OVA Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has had an impact on volleyball development at the regional or provincial level for 10 years or more.
The OVA awarded five very deserving members of our community with their award this past weekend and would like to congratulate each one of them. You each have been irreplaceable to your local and our broader provincial game.
Judi Shum- Mousseau’s journey began in London as a player and official, and continued in Ottawa where she added coaching to her already impressive resume. From guiding 18U boys and girls teams to national podiums — including an 18U D1T1 Provincial Championship and a National bronze medal in 2023 — Judi has led with passion, discipline, and heart. She has also been a strong female presence in officiating throughout her career, setting an example of confidence and integrity on the stand and courtside.
For over a decade, Judi has been a cornerstone of the Ottawa Mavericks Volleyball Club, serving in a wide range of roles that reflect her passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in the power of sport to shape young lives. Whether she’s managing logistics, supporting athletes and families, organizing tournaments, or helping guide club strategy, Judi brings the same level of care, professionalism, and tireless commitment to everything she touches.
She also sits on the board of the Maverick Youth Opportunity Fund, working to ensure that finances never stand in the way of a young athlete’s ability to participate. As a tireless advocate and fundraiser, Judi continues to champion equity, especially for young women in sport.
Judi's contributions have never been about recognition. She gives her time and energy for the love of the game, for the joy of seeing young athletes succeed, and for the strength of the community volleyball builds.
Wayne Felker's dedication has truly helped grow the game of volleyball in his community and beyond.
Wayne has been a passionate leader in our volleyball community for over a decade. In 2015, he founded the Viper Volleyball Academy, a recreational co-ed youth program that introduced young athletes to the sport and created a foundation for long-term development. Many of these athletes have gone on to compete for clubs across Ontario and pursue volleyball at the post-secondary level.
That same year, Wayne launched the Grimsby Volleyball Association with just one 13U team. Fast forward to today, the club now supports 13 teams for the 2024–2025 season. Thanks to Wayne’s vision and dedication, hundreds of athletes in the region now have the opportunity to play volleyball, be part of a team, and grow both on and off the court.
Over the past 10 seasons, as both head coach and club director, Wayne has remained committed to ensuring that young people have access to quality coaching, positive experiences, and a chance to fall in love with the game.
Mark Armitage
For over 20 years, Mark has been a pillar of the sport in Kingston—coaching athletes across all age levels and serving as a trusted leader within the Kingston Rock Volleyball Club. His dedication, technical expertise, and mentorship have helped countless athletes grow, both on and off the court.
Last season, Mark led Kingston’s 18U Girls team to its best-ever finish, a milestone achievement that speaks volumes about his leadership and commitment. With experience at both the club and university levels, he brings a high-performance mindset to every team he works with.
This year, Mark is taking on a new challenge as head coach of the 15U Girls National team, continuing to shape the future of volleyball in the region.
Mark, thank you for your adaptability, loyalty, and the impact you’ve made over the past decade. Your contributions do not go unnoticed.
A dedicated educator and coach, Mike Fuchs has been inspiring young athletes since 2000—starting in house league, shaping school programs at Christ the King and St. Jean de Brébeuf, and leading both school and OVA club teams with passion and purpose. He has coached every OVA age division from 13U to 18U and has led both boys' and girls' teams with equal dedication. His ability to bring people together, empower others, and lead with humility has left a lasting impact on every team he's worked with.
From the Waterdown Raiders to Mountain Volleyball Club—where he now shares the court with his daughter—Coach Mike continues to embody what it means to be a builder of sport and character.
Congratulations, Coach Mike, and thank you for all you do.
Wally Verschoor has coached across many age groups during his eight years with MVC—currently leading the 17U girls team—and has brought not only technical knowledge, but also strong leadership and mentorship to every athlete he’s worked with. In addition to his coaching, he also served three years as a club executive, helping guide team and club fundraising efforts.
Beyond the club, Wally has decades-long dedication to youth sport in the Hamilton area, making a lasting impact on school sport, coaching elementary athletes for over 26 years with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and inspiring students through his role as a longtime PE teacher at Dundas Central.
A Certified Development Coach, Wally’s influence spans over three decades, and his dedication was previously recognized with an OVA Recognition Award in 2020.
Thank you, Coach Wally, for your continued passion, leadership, and commitment to growing volleyball in your community.
The Recognition Award is presented to an individual who has been involved in the development of volleyball at the club or provincial level for 5 years or more.
We thank all of our recipients who are continuing to make a positive impact year in and year out and we hope to see each and every one of you back in 5 years for your Achievement Awards.
For more information about past award recipients, how to make nominations next year, and everything else awards related, please head over to the OVA Awards page.