Ambleside “A” Artificial Turf Sport Field Officially Named “Rutledge Field”
West Vancouver District Council unanimously endorsed West Vancouver Field Hockey Club’s proposal to name the new artificial turf field at Ambleside Park “Rutledge Field”, in tribute to Ross Rutledge, a dedicated community sport leader on the North Shore.
“West Vancouver Council is pleased to celebrate the naming of Rutledge Field in honour of a true leader who excelled in his sport,” states Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, "and we salute the field hockey and soccer communities for their continued fundraising efforts in his name."
A long-time North Shore resident, Ross was an accomplished field hockey player earning places on regional, Canadian and international teams. Over the course of his field hockey career he was described by peers and coaches as the best centre-forward and finest goal scorer Canadian field hockey ever produced.
Ross was also a dedicated coach to youth and adult field hockey teams on the North Shore. He started the popular “Adanacs” program at the West Van Field Hockey Club, a player development program that has enabled dozens of young North Shore athletes to excel and go on to win university scholarships in Canada and the USA.
Sadly, Ross passed away in April 2004 at the age of 41, leaving a wife and two young children. His memory inspires excellence and illustrates to aspiring athletes that you can achieve your goals through hard work and commitment. “His inspiration to athletes young and old will live on with all those who play on Rutledge Field” says Paul Winstanley of WVFHC Adanacs, who coached with Ross from 1997 to 2001. “He opened a world of opportunity to a generation of young field hockey players”, he adds.
"Ross played an instrumental part of my life growing up in West Vancouver. Being a part of his original touring team, the Adanacs, allowed me the opportunity to be recruited by several perennial top NCAA field hockey programs including Princeton University, where I ultimately matriculated. I couldn't imagine a better commemoration of Ross’ legacy--namely his impact on a generation of young athletes in West Vancouver and the province at large--than the naming of the new turf at Ambleside as Ross Rutledge field." - Shahrzad Joharifard, Collingwood School, Princeton University '05, Duke University School of Medicine '12
“Although I may not have appreciated him for all he was at the time, I look back and realize how dedicated he really was as a player, coach, and mentor. There was really something special about Ross that made you work harder, laugh a little more, and realize how much fun the game could be. The naming of Rutledge field after Ross is a wonderful tribute to the memory of a man who gave so much to the development of field hockey in West Vancouver.” - Johanna Bischoff, Carson Graham Secondary, Duke University School of Medicine.
