Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award on Mr. Tony Walby
2025/5/21
On May 21, 2025, Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi conferred the Ambassador’s Award on Paralympic judo athlete Mr. Tony Walby in recognition of his contributions to the development of bilateral relations through judo.
Mr. Tony Walby began judo at Takahashi Dojo at the age of seven, and despite being diagnosed with a progressive visual impairment, he was selected for the able-bodied national team at age 16 and has been active on the domestic and international stage for many years. After being officially certified as blind at age 35, he switched to judo for the visually impaired and has competed in numerous international competitions, including the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
In 2021, he became the first visually impaired person in Canada to be promoted to 6th dan, and since retiring from competitive judo, he has continued to compete in World Kata Championships, contributing to the spread and development of judo in Canada and the international community at the forefront. He is also an active instructor, coaching top athletes including two-time Olympian Nick Tritton, and is dedicated to training a wide range of judokas at Takahashi Dojo, contributing to the development of athletes through judo and promoting friendship between Japan and Canada.
He also served as Chair of the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Athletes' Council from 2018 to 2022, and from 2022 onwards served as a board member of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and Chair of the Centre's Ethics Committee, where he is committed to strengthening the ethical foundations of the sporting world.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi delivered a congratulatory address praising Mr. Tony Walby's achievements and presented him with a certificate of commendation. In response, Mr. Walby delivered his acceptance speech and expressed his gratitude to his family, the Paralympic Committee, and the members from the dojo. This was followed by congratulatory speeches from Mr. Sébastien Lemire, M.P., Executive Committee Member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, the Honourable Daryl S. Fridhandler, Senator, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, and Mr. Brian Mitani, who has taught Mr. Walby judo. To conclude the ceremony, Mr. Allyn Takahashi, representing Takahashi Dojo, gave a congratulatory speech and a toast. Also in attendance at the ceremony was a board member of the International Paralympic Committee, Ms. Miki Matheson.
Mr. Tony Walby began judo at Takahashi Dojo at the age of seven, and despite being diagnosed with a progressive visual impairment, he was selected for the able-bodied national team at age 16 and has been active on the domestic and international stage for many years. After being officially certified as blind at age 35, he switched to judo for the visually impaired and has competed in numerous international competitions, including the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
In 2021, he became the first visually impaired person in Canada to be promoted to 6th dan, and since retiring from competitive judo, he has continued to compete in World Kata Championships, contributing to the spread and development of judo in Canada and the international community at the forefront. He is also an active instructor, coaching top athletes including two-time Olympian Nick Tritton, and is dedicated to training a wide range of judokas at Takahashi Dojo, contributing to the development of athletes through judo and promoting friendship between Japan and Canada.
He also served as Chair of the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Athletes' Council from 2018 to 2022, and from 2022 onwards served as a board member of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and Chair of the Centre's Ethics Committee, where he is committed to strengthening the ethical foundations of the sporting world.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi delivered a congratulatory address praising Mr. Tony Walby's achievements and presented him with a certificate of commendation. In response, Mr. Walby delivered his acceptance speech and expressed his gratitude to his family, the Paralympic Committee, and the members from the dojo. This was followed by congratulatory speeches from Mr. Sébastien Lemire, M.P., Executive Committee Member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, the Honourable Daryl S. Fridhandler, Senator, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, and Mr. Brian Mitani, who has taught Mr. Walby judo. To conclude the ceremony, Mr. Allyn Takahashi, representing Takahashi Dojo, gave a congratulatory speech and a toast. Also in attendance at the ceremony was a board member of the International Paralympic Committee, Ms. Miki Matheson.
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| Congratulatory address by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Acceptance speech by Mr. Walby |
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| Congratulatory address by Mr. Lemire, M.P., Executive Committee Member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group |
Congratulatory address by the Honourable Daryl S. Fridhandler, Senator, member of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group |
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| Congratulatory address by Mr. Mitani |
Congratulatory address by Mr. Takahashi |
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| Ambassador Yamanouchi and Mr. Walby |
Mr. Walby and a board member of the International Paralympic Committee, Ms. Matheson. |
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| Group photo with the members of Takahashi Dojo | |