Field Hockey Ontario is happy to introduce a new series of content titled "Where are they now?" This series will highlight alumni from FHO, their playing, coaching, and umpiring careers, and what they are doing now. We are happy to introduce our first individual, Jean (Gourlay) Major. 

Playing Career:

High School: Thornlea SS - 5 years

University: U of T - 5 years, including 3 CIAU All-Star Selections

Team Ontario -12 years

Team Canada – 7 years, including 2 World Championships (79 in Vancouver placing 8, and 83 in Malaysia winning a Silver Medal) and 1984 Olympic Games in LA (5th Place)

Accolades:

U of T Athlete of the Year: 1980

Canadian Co-Captain: 1982-84

Selected to the World Cup tournament 11 in Malaysia: 1983

Burlington Sports Hall of Fame: 1984

U of T Sports Hall of Fame: 1997

OFSAA Leadership in School Sport Award for Field Hockey: 2015

Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame: 2019 (1983 National Team) and 2020 (Athlete)

Present time:

Jean is married with 3 sons (David, Cameron & Robert) and one grandson (Mason).  In her spare time, she plays field hockey, dragon boating, Pickleball, and golf.  

Jean is a retired secondary teacher of the Halton Catholic School Board. During her 30 plus years with the school board, Jean coached field hockey, ice hockey, badminton, and dragon boat. Jean's volunteer work also included working the Breakfast Club, Team Unbreakable, and  Mission trips to the Dominican Republic to build homes. Jean was also a co-instructor at the annual OFSAA Women’s Sports School for several years as well as a member of the OFSAA SAC committee for field hockey.  

Jean has volunteered at OFSAA championships at the technical table, was a timer/judge at U15 and U18 National Championships, and volunteered at the technical table for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Jean's latest “competition” was at the 2015 Golden Oldies Field Hockey Tournament in Leipzig, Germany.

When asked about her current field hockey involvement Jean said she is involved in the Halton community. "It warms my heart to see 8-year-olds learning the game and high school players playing all summer with their friends just for the love of the game. I play in the Senior Ladies division and umpire club and high school competition. Halton is an exceptionally special “hotbed” of field hockey. The opportunity to play at all levels is key. They have a Sunday evening co-ed pickup league for “senior” players which is great fun combining seasoned veterans along with boyfriends and husbands of league players and high school coaches learning the game. I played in the Toronto Masters tournament a few years back which was a thrill playing with friends from “back in the day” and introducing those youngens to a few of the old rules."

"I started my field hockey career on grass fields with long headed wooden sticks, wool kilts, only 2 subs allowed per game, 2 player offside, roll-ins, and bullies. Some of my fondest memories were at the annual Schoolgirls tournament at Sunnybrook Park where each team was given a bag of chocolate chip cookies and a garbage bag to clean up. Club tournaments were also a highlight where we would play all day and spend the next few hours relaxing in lawn chairs, shin guards out, socks rolled down with players of all teams drinking “pops” and eating samosas. To this day, these are some of my closest friends."  

Thank you, Jean, for sharing your experience with the FHO Community. Now you know where Jean is now!