Fifth-year physical education student and track and field athlete Liane Heale was honoured at the Ontario University Athletics Women of Influence luncheon on January 23, 2008.  The event, which is in its fifth year, recognized top female student-athletes from across the province. 

Heale, an outstanding student-athlete, finished the 2007 academic year with an impressive 3.92 GPA.  She is a four-time recipient of the T-Holder Academic Excellence Award and, in 2006, was one of only 100 students to be named a U of T scholar.  Heale was awarded the Hector Philips Scholarship, the Alumni and Rotary Club scholarships, and the Jean Forester Entrance Scholarship. 

This CIS academic all-Canadian has been a steady presence on the podium, medaling at the OUA and CIS track and field championships in each of her first four seasons. In 2007, she garnered five medals at the 2007 OUA and CIS championships. She was a gold medalist at the OUA championships in the 4×400m relay and a bronze medalist in both the 600m and the 4×800m relay. At the national championships, Heale earned another gold medal in the 4×800m, while helping her team to a surprise silver medal in the 4×400m relay.

On top of her academics and athletics, Heale finds time to give back to her community. This team captain has volunteered at the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, has been a canvasser for the Kidney Foundation, was a track official at the Public Housing track meet, and even found time to coach youth basketball.  This past summer, Heale and Varsity Blues assistant coach Ruthann Gairdner travelled to Kenya to volunteer in an orphanage for a month.

This year’s guest speaker at the OUA luncheon was Lorie Kane, Canadian LPGA golfer and recipient of the Order of Canada. Lorie spoke about her journey to becoming a professional golfer, offered her advice and told tales from her own experiences to help guide and inspire student-athletes in achieving their goals and reaching their dreams.