April 22, 2019 (Toronto, ON) – We’re sorry to report that long-time OCA Commissaire, Al Norley, nicknamed “Father Time”, passed away at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto on April 14. Norley was a fixture on the Ontario race scene for many years and was known for his time-keeping skills and story telling.

He worked with many race organizers before chip timing and was renowned for his double glasses. During his heyday he covered all cycling disciplines including mountain biking, road, and track events across the province and continued working with the Newmarket Eagles Cycling Club in the latter part of his career.

“Al Norley was certainly the best equipped of us when it came to time-keeping at the track,” commented fellow Commissaire, Brad Day. “It was his specialty and he was always assigned as timekeeper at the events we officiated together at the Wind-Del Velodrome near Delhi.”

“For many years, the Commissaire section of the OCA Handbook contained a classic picture of Al doing the timing at the Velodrome as an example of a Commissaire in action. He represented us well, we felt, and always will,” continued Day.

Adam Ruppel from Chico Racing remembered Norley’s amazing spirit. “Al was a great guy, a jeweller from the past. Always happy to help he had an amazing spirit, and loved timing, watches and cycling. He has been an icon in cycling forever. The type of person who always showed up on time, did his best and was just a salt of the earth guy.”

Ontario Commissaire, Dan Visentin told us that Al was in his thoughts recently. “Sorry to hear Al passed away… probably him tapping me on my shoulder. I worked many races and events with him back in the day… ’88-’95. My favourite memory was driving to Windsor together for the 1994 Ontario Provincial Road Championships. He did all the driving … and most of the talking as well lol! He was a wonderful friend and mentor. Wayne Willis worked with him as well,” recounted Visentin.

Norley knew everyone and his reputation was known outside the province as well. “I had not seen him for almost 20 years,” said Louise Lalonde, UCI Commissaire from Quebec. “Sad to hear he passed away.”

Story telling was a Norley trademark. “Of course one of the best things about working with Al was listening to the stories he would tell us and there was never a shortage of those that we would gladly enjoy during our breaks at the finish line whether it was at the mountain bike, road or track events,” added Day.

“There was never a better way to spend time huddled under a tent during a rain delay than to try to prompt Al to give us one more entertaining tale from his earlier years as a race official. It seemed like he knew almost everyone in the Cycling Hall of Fame and could tell you about some interesting tidbit or two from a time when they crossed paths. And of course his commanding voice made listening all that much better,” he concluded.

There are no details as of yet regarding his funeral and Celebration of Life.

Pedal joins the cycling community in sending condolences to Norley’s family and friends.