Albert “Bert” De Pape was born in Bruxelles, Manitoba. For many decades, De Pape was an integral part of the sport of aquatics at the provincial, national, and international level.

Through his long-time volunteer work in support of amateur swimming, De Pape sought to instill the development of health and optimism in the youth involved with the sport. In 1967, De Pape was named to the Canadian Amateur Swimming Association Organizing Committee for the Canadian Championships, Pan American Games Trials, and the Pan American Games. He later became involved in aquatics as an official and was a member of various national and international sport medicine committees.

De Pape’s expertise and involvement in doping control spanned three decades and included a formidable list of international appointments. Since ascending to the position in 1971, he was the chairman of doping control for the swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming events of the Pan American Games held between 1975 and 1991. De Pape was also involved with the doping control committees during the World Aquatic Championships from 1973 to 1986 as well as the Olympic Games in 1976, 1984, and 1988.

As an administrator, Dr. Bert De Pape served as the Chairman and Secretary of the International Sport Medicine Committee of the Amateur Swimming Union of the Americas (ASUA) as well as the Secretary of the International Sport Medicine Committee of the Federation International de Natation Amateur (FINA). His involvement in Canadian aquatics included service as a member of the board, vice-president, and president of the Canadian Amateur Swimming Association; a charter member and director of the Aquatic Federation of Canada; and as a member of the Swim Canada selection committee for Canada’s international swim teams.