David Gourlay, president of the Ottawa Champions (independent; Can-Am League), is leaving the team effective immediately, leaving it in the hands of owner Miles Wolff.
Gourlay has been the face of the Champions since the team launched in 2015, working hard to bring stable ownership back to Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park. As you’ll recall, this was the second effort to establish independent baseball at the ballpark after the departure of the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League) for the Lehigh Valley.
In an Ottawa Sun interview, Gourlay said he was leaving the team to spend more time with his family:
“I’m not an employee here, everyone thinks I am,” said Gourlay, a business consultant. “I’ve never received a single salary dollar here. I’ve been a pure volunteer for the past six years. It’s not a resignation in terms of leaving a job, it’s a resignation in terms of leaving a role.”…
Gourlay had a small stake in ownership, but that will go to majority owner Miles Wolff.
“It’s a bittersweet day,” said Gourlay. “Here we are going into Year 4. I felt I’d made my maximum contribution at this point in time. I’ll remain a very active fan. Yes, it’s a hard day – I’ve really enjoyed this, it’s been a big part of me. There are other things for me to do, there are other contributions I’d like to make.”
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