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TORONTO -- Canadian chef de mission Mark Tewksbury had a moment of a lifetime when he won gold in the backstroke at the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona. John Riggins Womens Jersey . Reaching the pinnacle of his sport was a crowning moment from his stellar swimming career but it paled in comparison to serving with the national Olympic team at the 2012 Games. "I can say it was undoubtedly the best experience of my life," Tewksbury said of his time in London. "I thought winning an Olympic gold medal would be a major highlight but this just trumped it tenfold." Tewksburys voice was hoarse from hooting and hollering at the Olympic Heroes Parade through the citys downtown core Friday. It was one last chance for the team members to put on their 2012 Olympic garb and celebrate their achievements in front of thousands of adoring fans on a warm, overcast afternoon. Some of the biggest cheers were for trampoline star Rosie MacLennan, who was in constant demand for pictures and autographs. "Its still really surreal," she said of her gold-medal win. "I dont know that itll ever fully hit me." Marching bands were mixed in with the floats during the parade, which lasted about an hour before finishing outside Air Canada Centre. About 200 Olympic and Paralympic athletes were on hand for the celebration. Members of the bronze medal-winning womens soccer team were also a crowd favourite. "Theres some touching moments," said goalie Karina LeBlanc. "Going by on the float and seeing little girls crying and freaking out. It makes us cry. Its one of those things where youre like, Is this real life? "From block to block to block, a lineup of people just cheering, theyre in their offices, theyre banging on the windows. Its incredible." Athletes were feted at the House of Commons on Wednesday and visited schools and hospitals in the Ottawa and Toronto regions this week. Several big-name athletes were in attendance Friday including cyclist Clara Hughes, kayaker Adam van Koeverden, triathlete Simon Whitfield and diver Alex Despatie. "Today was so beautiful," said Hughes, a six-time Olympian. "Today is my last day as a current Olympian so its really such a special thing to receive so many thank-yous from Canadians here in the streets of Toronto. "Thousands of Canadians came to say thank-you and wave their flags and to be able to say thank-you back meant the world to me." Canada won one gold, five silver and 12 bronze medals to finish 13th in the overall standings with 18 medals. Tewksbury was beaming as he talked about the teams performance in London. As chef de mission, he was the Canadian teams representative and spokesman at the Games. The Calgary native had a long list of duties but still made it out to several events to support the athletes. "It challenged me in every possible level -- as a leader, as a mentor, as somebody to be cheering for the team," Tewksbury said. "It was just so special to be in this exhilarating environment and we feel it even coming back together as a team. Theres an energy that this group had. "We broke down the silos, we united as one team and it was an honour to be a part of the leadership to help make that happen." Tewksbury added that since his focus was completely on the team, he had to turn down several requests -- including an invitation to have lunch with the Queen in the Olympic Village. "I just was like, Sorry, thats going to take me away from being at a sport that I need to be at so please send somebody else," he said. Instead, Tewksbury said he went to see the Canadian womens soccer team play South Africa. He said his trip out to Coventry to watch the game was well worth it. "Wouldnt have traded it for the world," he said. The Canadian Olympic Hall of Fames Class of 2012 was to be officially inducted later Friday. The Hall is welcoming Olympic champions Beckie Scott (cross-country skiing), Daniel Igali (wrestling) and Jean-Luc Brassard (freestyle skiing). The 2010 mens hockey team and 2006 womens hockey team will be inducted in the team category at the evening ceremony. Synchronized swimming coach Julie Sauve will be inducted in the builders category along with freestyle ski pioneer Sarah Burke, who will be posthumously enshrined for her trailblazing work in the sport. Former COC president Michael Chambers will receive the Canadian Olympic Order, recognizing his contributions to the Olympic movement in Canada. Notes: Toronto-based bank Forbes & Manhattan presented a $40,000 cheque to the Canadian mens Olympic relay team Friday. The athletes plan to use the funds in preparation for next years world championships and the Rio Games in 2016. Relay team members Gavin Smellie of Brampton, Ont., Oluseyi Smith of Ottawa, Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., and Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., initially won the bronze medal but they were disqualified moments later when Connaughton was called for stepping on the lane marker. Ryan Kerrigan Black Jersey . Lets dig in. @andrew2doucette: Why has the defense been so poor this year? We improved at PG, SF and C on defence. What gives? Defence takes chemistry, and like you said, there are new players at PG, SF and C in the starting five this year. Kory Lichtensteiger Jersey . Smiths agent confirms the deal that was agreed to early Tuesday. Smith had declined a $2.5 million option for next season, because doing so meant he could earn slightly more. http://www.fansredskinsroom.com/reed-doughty-jersey . -- Garrett Reid, the oldest son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, was found dead Sunday morning in his room at the clubs training camp at Lehigh University. Ryan Kerrigan Red Jersey . The Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers engaged in sign-and-trade talks all day on Thursday with the Wolves hoping to land the versatile 23-year-old swingman. Santana Moss Womens Jersey . The left-hander hasnt pitched in the majors since May 19. In nine starts this year, Danks is 3-4 with a 5.70 ERA. Hes in the first year of a five-year contract. "In the long run you find out what it is and take care of it," manager Robin Ventura said before Tuesdays game in Minnesota.The Canadian Curling Associations Season of Champions officially gets underway later this month with the Capital One Canada Cup, November 28-December 2 at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The mens and womens winners will earn berths directly into the 2013 Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials Roar of the Rings, December 1-8 in Winnipeg, which will determine Canadas representatives at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The womens field comprises reigning Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion and Ford Worlds bronze medallist Heather Nedohin of Edmonton; defending Canada Cup (and two-time winner), four-time Scotties and 2008 world champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg; two-time Cup winner Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon; 2003 Cup winner Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ontario; Winnipegs Cathy Overton-Clapham, a five-time Scotties winner, 2008 world and 2007 Canada Cup champion; 2011 Cup runner-up Chelsea Carey of Winnipeg and Crystal Webster of Calgary, a 2009 Pre-Trials event winner.  Jones qualified as the defending Cup champion, Nedohin qualified by winning last years Scotties, while the balance did so from their standing on the 2011-12 Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS). The mens field boasts the reigning Tim Hortons Brier and world champion Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ontario; 2010 Olympic gold medallist and record four-time Cup winner Kevin Martin of Edmonton; two-time world champion Jeff Stoughton of Winnipeg; 2010 Canadian and world champion Kevin Koe of Calgary; 2006 Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue of St. Robert Griffin III Camo Jersey. Johns; Mike McEwen of Winnipeg, a four-time Tour winner last year and John Epping of Toronto, winner of the 2006 Canadian Mixed. Martin qualified as the defending Cup champion, Howard for winning last years Brier, the balance from their standing on the 2011-12 CTRS. For the first time in Canada Cup history, TSN will provide complete coverage of the Capital One Canada Cup, presented by Mosaic, from the Opening Draw on Wednesday, November 28 through the womens and mens finals on Sunday, December 2. The seven mens and seven womens teams play a round robin, with the first place teams advancing to their respective finals, while the second and third place teams meet in semi-finals, after any required tiebreakers, to determine the other finalist. The total prize money is $70,000 each for men and women, with the winning teams receiving $14,000. The runners-up gets $9,000 while the third place finishers earn $5,000. Teams also receive $2,000 for each round robin win. In addition to berths into the 2013 Trials, the winners also earn invitations to the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup, at a site and date to be announced. ' ' '