2023 Annual Awards & Hall of Fame Banquet

While attending and playing volleyball in high school in Transcona, Mitch Davidson first started refereeing intramural games in 1974. As a player after high school, Mitch went on to be a member of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Men’s Team, while at the same time he continued to referee, developing a strong passion for officiating, as he already had for playing the sport.

After receiving his Local Officiating Badge in 1975, he continued to prove his abilities as a referee and advanced through the refereeing levels, receiving his Regional Badge in 1977, and then his National Badge in 1980 while in his early twenties, one of the youngest referees in Canada to attain that level of certification.

In 1992 Mitch attended an International Referee Clinic in Sofia Bulgaria, and after completing all the required training and matches, earned his International Badge in 1994.

Over the years Mitch was assigned to numerous national and international competitions including:

• Four World Military Volleyball Championships (Italy, USA, Romania & Canada)
• FIVB World League from 2000 through 2012
• CIAU/CIS/USPORT Championships and Matches, 1981 to present

The culmination of Mitch’s experience and reputation as an International Referee resulted in being chosen by the FIVB to officiate at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, and again being selected as a Referee at the 2012 Olympics in London. One of the only Canadians to be assigned as a referee at the multiple Olympic volleyball competitions.

Over the years Mitch honed his skills by not only refereeing national and international level competitions, but by officiating 200-300 matches locally at the high school, club, and adult league levels, one of the most actively assigned referees in the province.

While refereeing in Brazil during one international assignment with 30,000 people in the stands he said to himself,  ‘Holy smokes, a kid from Transcona, and look at all these people here.’ It’s kind of cool.”

Mitch retired from international assignments after the 2012 London Olympics. Still living in Winnipeg with his wife and son, he continues to referee at the local, college and university levels.

Growing up in the small town of Rivers, MB, influenced by his older siblings, Toon van Lankvelt played and fell in love with every sport available to him, and he couldn’t get enough. His three older brothers played volleyball after high school at college levels and his interest in volleyball took off from there.

Following his grade 11 high school season, Toon was selected to Team Manitoba for the 2001 Canada Games in London, ON. Although two years younger than most players competing, Toon was used as a blocking sub helping Manitoba win the bronze medal.

After moving from Rivers Collegiate in his grade 12 year to attend Neelin High School in Brandon, MB, Toon participated with the school’s basketball, soccer and of course the volleyball team. That year he helped the school basketball team claim a “AAA’ MHSAA Championship, while the volleyball team advanced to the final 4. Toon was selected as a Volleyball Manitoba Graduating All-Star that year, and as an MHSAA Athlete of the Year.

Following high school, Toon was recruited by and joined the University of Manitoba Men’s Volleyball Team where he continued to experience success on the court with the Bisons, which included:

• 2002-2003           CIS National Champions, Canada West Rookie

of the Year, CIS All-Rookie Team

• 2004-2005           CIS Bronze Medalists, First Team All-Star
• 2005-2006           CIS Bronze Medalist, First Team All-Star

Toon’s international volleyball experience began in 2003 when he was selected to Canada’s U21 National Team competing in the World Championships in Iran, where the team finished in 9th place. In following years, he competed with Team Canada at the 2005 & 2007 World FISU Universiade Games, finishing with the silver medals in 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.

In 2008, Toon was selected to the National Men’s Senior Team, ultimately competing in approximately 250 international matches over the next decade, while playing professionally in several countries throughout Europe.

Additional Highlights of Toon’s international career include the following:

• Member of Team Canada 2008-2016
  • 2010 & 2014 World Championships
  • 2011 & 2013 NORCECA Championships, Silver Medalists
  • 2015 FIVB World Cup
  • 2015 Pan American Games (Toronto), Bronze Medalists
  • 2015 NORCECA Championships, Gold Medalists
  • 2016 Rio Olympic Qualifier Team Member
• Played professionally overseas for 15 years:
  • 2007-08 Ethnikos Alexandroupolis (Greece)
  • 2008-09 Dionysos Stroumpi (Cypress)
  • 2009 Tomis Constanta (Romania), Cup Champions
  • 2010 Posolijilnica Aich/Dob (Austria)
  • 2010-11 VC Lennik (Belgium), Qualified for 2011-12 CEV Champions League
  • 2011-12 PV Cuneo (Italy), CEV Champions League
  • 2012-13 Nantes-Reze (France)
  • 2013-15 Asul Lyon (France), Qualified for 2015-16 CEV Champions League
  • 2015-16 Jastrzebski Wegiel (Poland)
  • 2016-17 Hyundai Capital (South Korea)

Toon retired from international volleyball in 2017 and is currently living with his wife Kristina and children in Sudbury, ON working as a Health and Wellness Coach, translating his international volleyball experience to helping others achieve excellence in the occupational setting.