A member of the Canadian contingent that participated at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, John Beedell was one of a small handful of very talented paddlers who rose to international prominence via their involvement with the Sudbury Canoe Club. Though born in New Zealand, Beedell moved to Sudbury in 1955 with his wife (Ann), working in mining, but spending every spare hour training alongside sprint canoe partner Joe Derochie.
Later, he and the family – which now included three boys – would make the move to Ottawa, with John completing his teaching degree and working at Ashbury College for quite some time. Sadly, he passed in 2014, succumbing to injuries sustained when he was hit by a school bus on the street, just outside his apartment.
Beedell represented Canada, along with Derochie, at the 1958 World Championships in Prague