It is with deep sadness and great pride that we share the passing of Aldo Robert Joseph Roy, an Olympian, teacher, coach, mentor, and deeply loved partner, uncle, and friend, who passed away peacefully at the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice in Kanata on April 18, 2026. Aldo lived a full and meaningful life, defined by strength, generosity, and a lasting impact on the people around him.

Born on March 22, 1942, in Sudbury, Ontario, Aldo was the son of Adelard Roy and Laura Roy (née Langlois). He grew up in a close-knit family where hard work and humility were simply part of everyday life. As a young teenager, Aldo began weightlifting with his brother Ralph, initially motivated by a desire to build strength and confidence. What started in a modest basement setting quickly grew into a lifelong passion.

In 1956, Aldo helped found the Sudbury Weightlifting Club alongside his brother Ralph Roy, Robert Leclair, and Murray Veno, an effort that helped lay the foundation for the sport in northern Ontario and shaped generations of athletes to come. He went on to represent Canada at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City in the light heavyweight division, an achievement he carried with deep pride throughout his life. Being chosen to carry the Canadian flag at the closing ceremonies was a moment he never forgot.

After moving to Ottawa, Aldo built an exceptional career in education. A teacher and later Department Head at the high school level, he was known for his leadership, his ability to connect with students, colleagues, and the broader community, and the genuine respect he earned from all who worked alongside him. His economics and history classes were always the place to be each one filled with energy, thoughtful discussion, and an inspirational story that carried a lesson far beyond the curriculum. Aldo had a rare and powerful ability to motivate, challenge, and inspire young people, leaving a lasting impression on thousands over the course of his career.

That same belief in others defined his life in sport. For over six decades, Aldo was a powerful and positive presence in the lives of both young and old. Through his work with the Trojan Weightlifting Club and beyond, he became known as the former lifter who showed up at every training session with a singular goal: to make champions. He did not choose his athletes he welcomed whoever walked through the door, no matter their background or ability.

To those who knew him, Aldo was without prejudice, without judgment, and without negativity. He inspired belief that you could be your best, not only in the gym or on the platform, but in life. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was nearly impossible to be an athlete in Ottawa and not find your way to the small gym at Carleton University, where Aldo coached, mentored, and shared his stories. Through those stories, he instilled values that stayed with people for life —doing what is right, working hard, and always striving for more. He pushed you to lift more, to give more, and to return ready to do it all again.

Many who trained under him followed his passion for teaching, going on to shape young lives in classrooms of their own. Others carried their love of sport to the highest levels, while some became coaches themselves, growing into respected leaders in Canada and around the world. His influence lives on through all of them.

Aldo also had a gift for storytelling. He could hold a room with stories rich in detail, humour, and perspective, and just when you thought he might go on forever, he would bring it all together with his familiar closing line, “to make a long story short,” always leaving you with something meaningful to carry forward.

Beyond his professional and athletic accomplishments, Aldo deeply valued connection and friendship. Thursday morning Breakfast Club and gatherings with his Ridgemont friends, and many others, were cherished traditions and a testament to the lifelong friendships he nurtured over decades. He also had a strong entrepreneurial spirit, enjoying his involvement in investment ventures and always embracing new ideas with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Aldo’s contributions extended across many roles as an Olympian, educator, coach, mentor, broadcaster, and trusted friend. He served as a weightlifting analyst with CBC for multiple Olympic Games, where his insight and passion brought the sport to life for viewers across the country. As broadcaster Brian Williams once said when opening an Olympic broadcast, “The Great A. Roy is one of the best colour commentators I have ever had the privilege of working with.” His contributions were further recognized with his induction into the Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame.

Aldo lived by a simple but powerful philosophy: “Think big, lift big.” It was advice he gave freely and lived fully.

Aldo is predeceased by his parents, Adelard and Laura Roy; his brother, Ralph Roy; his brother-in-law, Dr. Bernard Lynch; and his nephew, Bernard André Lynch.

He is lovingly remembered by his longtime partner, Julia Worswick; his sister, Jacqueline Lynch (née Roy); his beloved nieces and nephews – Vivian, Kevin, Natalie, Christine, and Nikki; and his great nieces and nephews, who will carry his memory forward with love.

With his passing, we have lost his stories, his beautiful smile, his boundless energy, and his deep passion for weightlifting—but his legacy lives on in the generations of people he inspired to be stronger, more committed, and more confident in themselves and their place in the world.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the many doctors, nurses, and personal support workers who cared for Aldo at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, and over the years at the Heart Institute, for their compassion and dedication.

A celebration of Aldo’s life will be held at a later date.