Lolly Gillen’s impact on squash — as a champion, builder, and leader — is extraordinary. Her competitive accomplishments are remarkable in their own right yet matched by decades of leadership and service to the sport at the provincial, national, and international levels.
As a competitor in the open category, Lolly captured 4 Open Mixed Doubles Titles (1 Pennsylvania, 1 Ontario, and 2 British Columbia). In age groups, she amassed 4 World Women's Doubles titles, 2 U.S. Women’s Doubles titles, 16 Canadian Women’s and 14 Canadian Mixed Doubles championships, along with 13 Ontario Mixed and 8 Ontario Women’s Doubles titles. In 2024, she earned gold in the Pan American Squash57 Women’s 60+ Individual event.
Off court, Lolly’s influence has been transformative. With Squash Ontario, she served as Chair of the Competitions Committee in 1990, co-organized the inaugural junior squash fundraising golf tournament in 2001, and co-created the North American Hardball Doubles Ranking Program, managing it through 2018. She served as a Board Member from 2004 to 2006, as President of the Board from 2006 to 2008 and played an instrumental role in establishing the Ontario Squash Hall of Fame.
Nationally, Lolly’s leadership with Squash Canada helped shape the sport’s modern direction. She served as Secretary/Treasurer of the National Patron’s Endowment Fund (1990–1997), was a founding member of the first Doubles Committee in 2001 and spearheaded the Canada/U.S. doubles referee certification program in 2002. Lolly was Vice President of Operations (2009–2012) and President of the Board (2013–2018). In 2014, she founded the “Road to Podium” campaign, raising $200,000 to support high-performance athletes. She later co-created the Canada Inclusivity Squash Program in 2019 and established Canada’s first wheelchair squash program in 2023.
Internationally, Lolly has represented Canada with distinction. She served as Marketing Director for the PACE Canadian PSA Squash Classic (1999–2008), team captain for the Lapham Grant-Crawford Cup (2009–2010), and member of the Championship Committee for the 2014 Women’s World Team Championships. Since 2018, she has served as Canada’s international delegate to World Squash and the Pan American Squash Federation, including as Secretary General (2019–2028) and Chair of major committees. Since 2025, she has served as Chair of the World Squash 57 Committee.
In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Lolly has received the Squash Canada Special Achievement Award (2001), the Ontario Sports Syl Apps Special Achievement Award (2003), and the Barry Grant Ontario Jester of the Year Award (2013). The Gillen/Pierce Cup bears her name in honour of her impact on the CanAm Women’s event. She was inducted into the Toronto Cricket Club Wall of Fame in 2015 and the Canadian Squash Hall of Fame in 2023.
Click here to view Lolly's acceptance speech.