Two Lancer head coaches will receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on Wednesday, January 23. Women’s basketball coach Chantal Vallée and cross-country and track coach Dennis Fairall—each of whom won Canadian Interuniversity championships in 2012—will be honoured for the outstanding leadership they provide varsity student-athletes.

The Canadian government created the medal to mark significant achievements in celebration of the jubilee year, marking the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne.

Windsor-Tecumseh MP Joe Comartin will present Fairall with his medal in a private ceremony Wednesday evening at the Windsor Yacht Club. Fairall is the most decorated head coach in the history of Canadian university athletics, honoured a record 38 times as national or provincial coach of the year. His Lancer teams have won 24 national and 43 Ontario championships.

Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West, will present Vallée with her medal in a ceremony before the Lancers’ game against the McMaster Marauders at the St. Denis Centre. He cited her community outreach in calling her a “slam-dunk” as a Jubilee medal recipient.

“Her inspirational mentorship has motivated so many to push beyond their perceived limitations,” Masse said. “By instilling this determination and emphasizing positive community involvement, Coach Vallée is helping to create a new generation of role models for young people to admire and emulate.”

The ceremony is set to start at 5:55 p.m., with tip-off slated for 6:05 p.m. Wednesday’s basketball doubleheader will also air live locally on TV Cogeco and will be webcast on UStream.

The reigning two-time CIS champion women’s squad boasts an unblemished 13-0 record, putting them back on top of the national rankings. The Lancer men, who will play at 8 p.m., are fifth in the national rankings with a 10-3 record.