Reprinted from Toronto Souvenir Journal 2013
Clive Barriffe attended St. Michael's Primary School located on the southern shores of downtown Kingston. After passing the common entrance exam as destiny would intervene, he moved on to Kingston College.
He recalls his first day being dropped off in his father's police cruiser and pleading with him to stop dropping him off by the school gate: it was too embarrassing! So, Dad would stop on North Street out of sight of the school and allow Clive to walk in.
From 1969 to 1974, he made regular appearances on the track at Boys Champs where he excelled in several events. His personal motto was, "If there is an event .from which KC needs points to win Champs, then sign me up."
He accepted a full track scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1974, where he
graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Marketing.
At the University of Florida, he held the 400m hurdles record, and in 1978 was the institution's first Penn Relays winner in that event. During this period, he became the record holder of the Jamaica 400m hurdles and was a member of the record breaking 4x400m relays team at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Medellin, Colombia. He also won a silver medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton in the 4x400m relay.
Clive's leadership by example has throughout the years been recognized by his coaches. He was selected to captain various teams including the Kingston College squad, Jamaica Carifta team, and the University of Florida Gators.
During his tenure as captain of the 1973 Carifta team in Trinidad, he recalled one of the most traumatic experiences of his life: the accidental drowning of fellow KC schoolmate, Owen Bruce. He still remembers the sadness that overcame the entire team and the tearful flight back to Jamaica.
In 1994, Clive was elected President of the KCOBA (Toronto Chapter) and held that position for two years. He spearheaded efforts that lead to the 1995 Annual Spring Dance being the Chapter's most successful fundraising function.
Clive is proud of his involvement with his comrnunity and he has received awards for youth developrnent and coaching. He is a former board member of Ajax Soccer Club, one of the top soccer clubs in Ontario.
Clive is married for over 30 years to Carmeta Drummond, herself a former Jamaica track and field representative. He has had a career in retail management, and for the past several years has owned a travel and vacation company which is well established in the Durham Region of Ontario.
Clive and Carmeta have two sons that are recent graduates from university in Mathematics and
Economics, respectively, and who also have adopted the motto "The brave may fall but never yield.”