By Jasminee Sahoye

His outstanding performance on the soccer field as well as his dedication, achievements and leadership in developing soccer in Canada has made Toronto’s Deputy Police Chief, Jamaican-born, Peter Sloly the best person to receive the second Brian Budd Award.

Sloly received the prestigious award at last Saturday’s Soccer Hall of Fame’s 2011 12^thinduction class.

The Brian Budd Award is intended to recognize those who have excelled both in soccer and in another endeavour but who might not otherwise qualify for induction into The Soccer Hall of Fame. The candidate must exemplify good character, show outstanding dedication, achievements and leadership in developing soccer in Canada and provide inspiration to past, present and future generations.

At last year’s induction banquet the Brian Budd Award was introduced and presented to the first ever recipient, the late Peter Zezel.

Budd, who passed away in 2008, became the most internationally recognized Canadian Soccer player through his participation in the various Super Star Competitions between 1978 and 1980. These competitions were televised around the world, and brought together world class International athletes who had won regional competitions to compete on the show.

Sloly was selected by the Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Governors as the second recipient of the Brian Budd Award.

When he and his family moved to Toronto in 1966 from Jamaica, just before his 10^th birthday, Sloly began playing youth soccer. He excelled on the field while playing for St. Andrews Soccer Club, where he was coached by former Ontario Soccer Association President, and currently retired police officer John Knox. Sloly played for Knox until he was 15, when his talents earned him a place on the Provincial team. He went on to play 21 times for Canada’s Youth National Team, including the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championships in the old Soviet Union. He was capped once for Canada’s Senior Men's National Team in a game against Egypt in Cairo. He also played professionally for the Toronto Blizzard, alongside 2011Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee, Lyndon Hooper.

Sloly, who has been with the Toronto Police Service for 23 years, is currently in charge of Executive Command which includes Professional Standards Investigative Unit, Professional Standard Risk Management Unit, Legal Services, Corporate Communications, Corporate Planning, Records Management, Property and Evidence Management Unit, Audit and Quality Assurance and the Video Services Unit. He has a Criminal Justice Education Certificate from the University of Virginia, Incident Command System Certification from the Justice Institute of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from McMaster University and a Masters in Business Administration from York University's Schulich School of Business. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the University of Toronto Rotman Police Executive Leadership Program.