Carol LaFayette-Boyd

Photo by NA0MI HARRIS

Carol LaFayette-Boyd grew up on a farm but moved to Regina with her family in 1956 at the age of 14. She was the only Black student attending Sheldon-Williams Collegiate where she participated in a variety of sports including track and field.

She decided to follow in her sister, Vera’s footsteps and studied psychiatric nursing at the Saskatchewan Hospital – Weyburn. She has many fond memories of her experiences there. She got along with all the patients. This is when treating people with dignity and respect became paramount in her profession.

Carol married an American who was in the United States Air Force and throughout their married life he was most often stationed overseas. During these times Carol was always happy to return to Canadian soil. She completed her psychiatric nurses training in 1965 which enabled her to work at the Munroe Clinic in Regina. When she returned to Saskatchewan for good in 1972 she started working at Social Services in Regina.

Carol decided to return to school taking night classes at the University of Regina, School of Social Work. She achieved her certificate in 1977. Her degree took somewhat longer but her perseverance and determination paid off; in 1985 Carol graduated with a degree in Social Work.

Her work in Special Foster Homes enhanced her understanding of the needs of abused and neglected children. She became involved in public awareness activities such as speaking at schools on child abuse. This led to several years of training social workers about child abuse and neglect, work she enjoyed very much. She also trained on the subject of child care and adoption, young offenders, and human resources.

She continued in this role until 1996 when she became the training coordinator for the Paul Dojack Youth Centre. In 2002 she took on a supervisory role from which she retired in the fall of 2005. Two things Carol learned through her professional career: don’t take anything personally and never show fear.

At the age of 50, Carol participated in the Masters Track Meet held in Regina and has been ‘hooked’ ever since. She holds or held Saskatchewan and Canadian Indoor Track records for her age group in the 50m, 60m, 200m, 300m and 400m run as well as long-jump, high-jump and triple-jump events. On the Outdoor Track, Carol holds or held records for the 100m, the 200m as well as, the long, high and triple-jump events. She also holds or held records with relay teams from different age groups.  She has competed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Maine, Utah, California, Italy, Hungary and Spain.  Since turning 65 Carol has broken 25 World records in 60m, 100m, 200m,  long Jump, triple Jump and high Jump and has been on one relay team that broke a world record. https://world-masters-athletics.com/records/ 

In 2014, she was recognized by the City of Regina at the May 24^th Council meeting. https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=3607&Print=Yes.  Carol had received 5 gold medals at the World Masters Track & Field Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary.  https://www.cbc.ca/afternoonedition/episode/2014/04/07/carol-lafayette-boyd-wins-big-at-world-masters/

 Since 2008 Carol has ranked first in the world in her age group in many of the events she has participated. https://www.mastersrankings.com/athlete-profile/?x8=CAN403156349CAROLLAFAYETTEBOYD. 

In 2017 Carol was chosen as the World Masters Athletics Female Sprinter of the Year and the runner up as the World Masters Athletics Female jumper of the year.  http://leaderpost.com/sports/local-sports/lafayette-boyd-receives-prestigious-award.  

In 2018 Carol was chosen as the Female Athlete of the Year by World Masters Athletics and the runner up as the World Masters Athletics Female jumper of the year. https://leaderpost.com/sports/local-sports/reginas-carol-lafayette-boyd-wins-world-track-honour .  She is the first Canadian of African descent to receive the award.

Carol is in the Regina Sports Hall of Fame  (2014) and Canadian Masters Sport Hall of Fame (2012)

Carol’s daughter and son passed away in 2013 and 2014.  She married Lemuel Boyd in 1984 and he passed away in 2015.  Carol credits her faith that has taken her through the passing of her loved ones.  She is the proud grandmother of three and great grandmother of four.

AWARDS

1965       Kempton’s Stationary and Book Award in Psychiatric Nursing Theory and Practice

2001       35 Years Long Service Award – Saskatchewan Government

2002      YWCA Nominee, Women of Distinction – Sports Category

2008       Daughters of Africa - Award of Excellence in Sport

2017       Access Communications – Athlete of the Year Award

2017       Saskatchewan Jamaican Association Community Service Recognition Award

2019       Honorary Membership - Community of Francophone Africans of Saskatchewan Inc.

2020       Office of the Secretary to the Governor General Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers

2021       Honorary Doctor of Laws – University of Regina

ATHLETIC AWARDS

Provincial

Sask Sport Masters athlete of the year (all sports) 2002, 2004, 2007, finalist 2011

Sask Sport - Athlete of Month (all sports, ages) – September 2007, July 2011

Bob Adams Award of Excellence, Masters Category - 1998, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2017

Howard West Award, Sask Athletics – 2008, 2014, 2019

National

2007 CMA Female Master Athlete of the Year
2017 CMA Earl Fee Award for Track
2017 CMA Olga Kotelko Award for Field
2018 CMA Olga Kotelko Award for Field

CMA Masters Athlete of Month (awards started – 2012)                 June 2012, February, 2013, February, 2017, February 2018

Regional – North & Central America, Caribbean World Masters Athletics (NCCWMA)

2017 Overall Female Masters Athlete, Best Female Sprinter and Best Female Jumper

(NCCWMA) – 2018 Overall Female Masters Athlete and Best Female Jumper. .http://leaderpost.com/sports/local-sports/lafayette-boyd-receives-prestigious-award  https://world-masters-athletics.com/news/meet-carol-lafayette-boyd-the-2018-female-athlete-of-the-year/

International – World Masters Athletics (WMA)
2017 was chosen as the World Masters Athletics Female Sprinter of the Year and the runner up as the World Masters Athletics female jumper of the year.

2018 was chosen as the World Masters Athletics Overall Female Athlete of the Year and the World Masters Athletics Runner-up Female Jumper of the year.

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