In a distinguished legal career spanning more than five decades, Robert Wright is used to calling the shots.
While he may be at home in the court of law, it was his love of the basketball court that set him on a sporting journey that started at Simon Fraser University and has this week culminated in a prestigious award.
Robert Wright, number 33, pictured in the SFU men's basketball team. Photo credit: SFU Archives
Wright has been inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, the highest sporting honour in British Columbia, recognizing his remarkable contribution to sport over the years.
"It's a really nice honour and a touch humbling," says Wright, a member of SFU's first men's basketball team in 1965.
"It's a real compliment to all the people I have worked with in basketball, tennis and sport generally. It means so much as it's right here in B.C."
Despite his SFU sporting career and describing himself as a "decent" tennis player, it was Wright's work in sporting governance that led to his nomination for the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
During the 1980s, Wright oversaw the work of a number of provincial organizations - Sport BC, Tennis BC, and Basketball BC. He also served as chair of Tennis Canada, 1989-91, restructuring the organization to become the first staff-centered national sport federation in Canada.
Alongside his love of sport, Wright has led a notable legal career. The SFU English grad oversaw one of Canada's most significant trials - the bombing of Air India Flight 182. Between 1997-2005, Wright was lead trial counsel for the prosecution.
Robert Wright
"In my line of work, something bad has already happened, the crime is over. You can't get too caught up in the emotional part of the tragedy," says Wright, currently the executive director, criminal appeals and special prosecution, at BC Prosecution Service.
"In sport, you have a chance to do something that is really positive and constructive. Sport has such immense value, even if it's just doing something local to you."
Since 1966, the BC Sports Hall of Fame has inducted 452 individuals, including Wright's own dad, and 69 teams to its Hall of Champions.
Wright will pick up the W.A.C. Bennett Award, of which former SFU student Terry Fox was the inaugural recipient in 1981.
"From his time as an original SFU student-athlete, to his leadership of several provincial sporting organizations and his distinguished law career, Bob has been a history-maker and an important contributor to this province his whole life," says Breanne Watson, SFU director for athletics.
"SFU Athletics congratulates Bob on earning such a prestigious honour."
