Bruce Covert

Chances are that if you played a competitive game of basketball in the last 5 decades either locally, provincially, or at the national level Bruce Covert refereed one of your games. After playing both football and basketball at C.D.C.I. East for 5 years, Bruce, a lifelong resident of our community, turned his sporting attentions to the officiating side of the game which has resulted in a distinguished 50-year career. Locally Bruce was one of the founding members of the Cobourg Board of Basketball Officials. Over the years he has not only officiated but served in a variety of executive roles as well. Provincially Bruce was member of the OUA Basketball Panel for 30 years; a designated crew chief for 24 of them. He refereed more than 600 OUA league and exhibition games, more than 75 OUA playoff games and 12 Wilson Cup games (OUA Men’s Provincial Championship). He has officiated for 40 years in the OCAA and worked 4 OCAA Men’s Provincial Championships. Bruce officiated 10 OFSAA High School Championships. Nationally Bruce officiated 16 Championship tournaments: 14 U Sport Men’s, 1 Premier Men, 1 Premier Women, officiating 4 Gold Medal Games and 2 Consolation Finals. As well from 2010-2016 he had a 6 year stint with the National Basketball League of Canada. Internationally Bruce was an official at the 1985 World Masters Games in Toronto. For 10 years he refereed games involving Canada vs other countries traveling throughout Ontario. As well he officiated the Iqaluit Aboriginal Games, the Barbados Invitational, and the Nassau Bombay Shootout. In 2012 he was only the 7th Canadian official to be awarded IAABO Life Membership. In addition to his on-court work Bruce has served as an OUA supervisor, a provincial and national evaluator, and most importantly, as a mentor to fellow officials. For 25 years Bruce was the director of all OABO summer camps, training more than 1000 OABO officials, including over 90% of the current OUA and OCAA officials in Ontario, plus countless other officials from outside of the province. Bruce has left an indelible imprint on the sport of Basketball in Ontario. In 2016, Bruce was the recipient of the John A. (Wink) Willox Award from the Canadian Association of Basketball Officials in recognition of “outstanding contributions made to basketball and basketball officiating”. He also received the Ontario Association of Basketball Officials Life Membership. The highest award the association can give.