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I want to give a short summary of my encounters with Hal, over 3+ decades, in the many different scenarios which have unfolded.
1) 1989: Fellow-competitor: I met Hal for the first time in Ottawa at an Eastern Ontario Chess Association Grand Prix event in 1989. Our last round game would decide the U2000 section. In a spirited battle, Hal held the draw, which, with his half-point lead, secured first prize; I tied for second. We became friends during the analysis afterwards, heartened by a beer in the RA restaurant, and we have stayed friends for 32 years.
2) 1992: CFC Executive Director: When I was Head Organizer and Deputy Arbiter for the 1992 Zonal in Kingston, I worked closely with Hal, CFC Executive Director and magazine editor, throughout that Championship. He was commuting back and forth from Ottawa, balancing his duties running the national organization. I made sure to get the game bulletins done as soon as possible; these went to the players, organizers and spectators; Hal got the news out to the country, and then promptly into the magazine with the tournament report and article. IA Alex Knox of Toronto served as Head Arbiter and did an absolutely super job, for an event which was, overall, a success. Hal was helpful in a dozen different ways. He quickly and professionally solved a significant problem at the end of the event that was out of the control of the organizers.
3) 2004: Canadian Open bidder: As a CFC Governor, I was present at the 2004 CFC Annual General Meeting in Kapuskasing, where I also served as Deputy Arbiter for the Canadian Open. Hal presented a bid for the 2006 Canadian Open to the meeting. It was to take place in Kitchener, with himself as lead organizer. Two years in advance, the bid was well organized and planned, filled with important information on all aspects, and was well received. No decision was made at that time; that took place a few months later, with strong approval.
4) 2006: Canadian Open organizer and arbiter: I served as a Deputy Arbiter for Hal's very successful Open in Kitchener.
5) 2007: As an event Arbiter, I was at the 2007 Canadian Open in Ottawa. Bill Doubleday and I had submitted the original bid. Hal had to explain to the AGM about certain problems from the 2006 CYCC in Kitchener, which he had largely NOT been responsible for. He did so very well, and the matter was sorted out.
6) 2009: Problem-solver as Arbiter: I was helping to organize the 2009 University Teams event in Kingston, with Alex Lambruschini in the lead role. Unfortunately, only a few weeks before the event, Alex's professional schedule was changed, making him unavailable for the Championship. Being realistic, I felt that my problematic health situation would not allow me to take over his duties and make the event the success it deserved to be. I thought of Hal: I contacted him, learned he was available and interested, but of course as a professional arbiter, he would require a salary and conditions, far more than Alex was budgeted for. Due to the exceptional kindness of the Queen's University student governments, sufficient last-minute funding for this was arranged. Hal arrived, was briefed and up to speed; he took charge, and the event was a complete success, with me assisting him.
7) 2010: FIDE Arbiter Course Instructor: In conjunction with the 2010 Canadian Open in Toronto, Hal partnered with IA Stephen Boyd to present the first FIDE Arbiter Course ever offered in Canada. I registered as a student. Their efforts compared favourably with any similar event I have ever been involved with, across non-chess topics as well. I learned an enormous amount in the course, passed the exam, and received a FIDE certificate.
8) 2019: Appeals Committee Chair: At the 2019 Zonal in Kingston, Hal was a competitor in a lower section; I was on tournament staff as Fair Play Officer. Hal served as Chair of the Appeals Committee, while I was a member. IA / IO Aris Marghetis and his team put on a wonderful event. No appeals resulted across nine rounds with about 100 players, so no Committee meetings!!
Hal and I have also enjoyed many friendly casual conversations over those years; I have always emerged from those better informed and happier, since Hal is such an upbeat person!! In every scenario when I was around Hal, as described above, I always saw from him highly professional knowledge and effort, utmost consideration for multiple points of view, friendly people skills, and a forward-looking outlook on what would be best for Canadian chess. While I never contemplated chess involvement for myself at anywhere near Hal's level, he has inspired me to become more involved in Canadian chess, and I believe I have made, and am making, a positive contribution as a result. I know for a fact that Hal has inspired and mentored several other important organizers in Canadian chess. Hal is one of my favourite people in Canadian chess!
Hal has also served as an Arbiter at higher levels in important events with FIDE than any other Canadian has done. He has run a successful series of International Tournaments at Guelph for many years. Hal is well respected as a teacher and proponent of youth players.
I believe that CFC President Vlad Drkulec, in some of his postings on this board covering this important topic, has been somewhat disrespectful of Hal's efforts, skills, qualifications, and contributions. These actions by Vlad have been both unfortunate and disappointing; they have not contributed to a solution, while making what was already a bad situation even worse. Hal has been an organizer in Canadian chess for 30+ years, at the national and international levels, while Vlad is at about a decade of involvement at that level, with nowhere near the breadth and depth of contributions that Hal has attained. Hal is well known and highly respected around the world in chess. Hal could attend any important chess event in the world, and find friends!
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Dixon
NTD, Kingston
1) 1989: Fellow-competitor: I met Hal for the first time in Ottawa at an Eastern Ontario Chess Association Grand Prix event in 1989. Our last round game would decide the U2000 section. In a spirited battle, Hal held the draw, which, with his half-point lead, secured first prize; I tied for second. We became friends during the analysis afterwards, heartened by a beer in the RA restaurant, and we have stayed friends for 32 years.
2) 1992: CFC Executive Director: When I was Head Organizer and Deputy Arbiter for the 1992 Zonal in Kingston, I worked closely with Hal, CFC Executive Director and magazine editor, throughout that Championship. He was commuting back and forth from Ottawa, balancing his duties running the national organization. I made sure to get the game bulletins done as soon as possible; these went to the players, organizers and spectators; Hal got the news out to the country, and then promptly into the magazine with the tournament report and article. IA Alex Knox of Toronto served as Head Arbiter and did an absolutely super job, for an event which was, overall, a success. Hal was helpful in a dozen different ways. He quickly and professionally solved a significant problem at the end of the event that was out of the control of the organizers.
3) 2004: Canadian Open bidder: As a CFC Governor, I was present at the 2004 CFC Annual General Meeting in Kapuskasing, where I also served as Deputy Arbiter for the Canadian Open. Hal presented a bid for the 2006 Canadian Open to the meeting. It was to take place in Kitchener, with himself as lead organizer. Two years in advance, the bid was well organized and planned, filled with important information on all aspects, and was well received. No decision was made at that time; that took place a few months later, with strong approval.
4) 2006: Canadian Open organizer and arbiter: I served as a Deputy Arbiter for Hal's very successful Open in Kitchener.
5) 2007: As an event Arbiter, I was at the 2007 Canadian Open in Ottawa. Bill Doubleday and I had submitted the original bid. Hal had to explain to the AGM about certain problems from the 2006 CYCC in Kitchener, which he had largely NOT been responsible for. He did so very well, and the matter was sorted out.
6) 2009: Problem-solver as Arbiter: I was helping to organize the 2009 University Teams event in Kingston, with Alex Lambruschini in the lead role. Unfortunately, only a few weeks before the event, Alex's professional schedule was changed, making him unavailable for the Championship. Being realistic, I felt that my problematic health situation would not allow me to take over his duties and make the event the success it deserved to be. I thought of Hal: I contacted him, learned he was available and interested, but of course as a professional arbiter, he would require a salary and conditions, far more than Alex was budgeted for. Due to the exceptional kindness of the Queen's University student governments, sufficient last-minute funding for this was arranged. Hal arrived, was briefed and up to speed; he took charge, and the event was a complete success, with me assisting him.
7) 2010: FIDE Arbiter Course Instructor: In conjunction with the 2010 Canadian Open in Toronto, Hal partnered with IA Stephen Boyd to present the first FIDE Arbiter Course ever offered in Canada. I registered as a student. Their efforts compared favourably with any similar event I have ever been involved with, across non-chess topics as well. I learned an enormous amount in the course, passed the exam, and received a FIDE certificate.
8) 2019: Appeals Committee Chair: At the 2019 Zonal in Kingston, Hal was a competitor in a lower section; I was on tournament staff as Fair Play Officer. Hal served as Chair of the Appeals Committee, while I was a member. IA / IO Aris Marghetis and his team put on a wonderful event. No appeals resulted across nine rounds with about 100 players, so no Committee meetings!!
Hal and I have also enjoyed many friendly casual conversations over those years; I have always emerged from those better informed and happier, since Hal is such an upbeat person!! In every scenario when I was around Hal, as described above, I always saw from him highly professional knowledge and effort, utmost consideration for multiple points of view, friendly people skills, and a forward-looking outlook on what would be best for Canadian chess. While I never contemplated chess involvement for myself at anywhere near Hal's level, he has inspired me to become more involved in Canadian chess, and I believe I have made, and am making, a positive contribution as a result. I know for a fact that Hal has inspired and mentored several other important organizers in Canadian chess. Hal is one of my favourite people in Canadian chess!
Hal has also served as an Arbiter at higher levels in important events with FIDE than any other Canadian has done. He has run a successful series of International Tournaments at Guelph for many years. Hal is well respected as a teacher and proponent of youth players.
I believe that CFC President Vlad Drkulec, in some of his postings on this board covering this important topic, has been somewhat disrespectful of Hal's efforts, skills, qualifications, and contributions. These actions by Vlad have been both unfortunate and disappointing; they have not contributed to a solution, while making what was already a bad situation even worse. Hal has been an organizer in Canadian chess for 30+ years, at the national and international levels, while Vlad is at about a decade of involvement at that level, with nowhere near the breadth and depth of contributions that Hal has attained. Hal is well known and highly respected around the world in chess. Hal could attend any important chess event in the world, and find friends!
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Dixon
NTD, Kingston
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