Monday November 25, 2024, during a ceremony at the castle, the Municipality awarded the tenth Citizen Merit of the City of Nyon. A distinction which aims to demonstrate the consideration and recognition of the Authorities towards the significant action of a citizen in favor of the Nyon community.
This year, it rewards M. Daniel Cornazwhich stands out for its remarkable voluntary and supportive commitment, particularly with children and adults with disabilities as well as with seniors.
A well-known figure among Nyonnaises and Nyonnais
Daniel Cornaz, aged 76, spent his childhood in Lausanne. He is the father of two daughters of Colombian origin, now aged 32 and 30, adopted in 1999.
He was a physical education teacher in Nyon for a long time. First in primary school (from 1966), in secondary school (from 1972) then at the gymnasium (from 1988). Between 2003 and 2008, he held the position of dean for the maturity classes and became a member of the Board of Directors.
A strong commitment to sport
Apart from his professional responsibilities, Daniel Cornaz is actively involved in various sporting and social projects. From a young age, he led sports classes for blind, visually impaired or disabled people. A sensitivity and expertise which were transmitted to him by his father, he himself invests in various associations.
He was also a player and coach of football (for over thirty years), basketball and volleyball, while serving as an international volleyball referee. In this context, it organizes various international meetings and national team training courses. He also prepared a team of sportsmen and women from the region, who competed under the Trélesian colors, for the Games without Borders in 1979. Following this participation, the club Omnisports was created with the mission of encouraging the practice of various sports, in a relaxed atmosphere. Member of the Swiss Association of Sports Managers, he holds a federal certificate.
At the beginning of the 90s, Daniel Cornaz became a sports correspondent for the Journal of Nyon (Today The side). In 2015, and for several years, he chaired the Fondation Sportsmile. The latter offers various activities for children suffering from overweight or obesity: sports lessons given to children and parents, camps or even therapeutic workshops.
As a member of the City’s Sports Commission, he ensures that the voice of seniors is heard, for example within the framework of the Colovray multi-sport complex project.
Co-founder of the Association of Nyonnaise Sports Companies (ASSN)
Daniel Cornaz was at the initiative, with the late Jean-François Jeanneret, of the ASSN and became, in 1975, its first president. This entity was initially created to bring together sports associations and raise awareness in the Municipality of the need to develop new facilities. Its main objectives are to defend the interests of member companies and to promote the practice of sport.
Daniel Cornaz and the ASSN are at the origin of the creation of Regional sporting meritsas we know them today, and which are organized each year alternately by the municipalities of Gland and Nyon.
A multidisciplinary associative journey
Active member of the Nyon Seniors Association since its creation, it has notably initiated the sports passport project, making it possible to highlight local sports societies and the range of sports available to seniors. Daniel Cornaz himself contacts these different companies and athletes from Nyon to organize the passport.
Although retired, Daniel Cornaz continues to put his expertise at the service of various mandates in the field of professional guidance, for example, by collaborating with the company Talent Explorer. Passionate about theater, he was part of the troupe Les Balades Théâtralisés. Historical shows in the form of guided tours. In addition, he notably had the pleasure of playing at the Funambule Workshops in Nyon and Coppet.
Daniel Cornaz was also responsible for bars and restaurants at Paleo festival for more than five years, after having been a host and bar manager for many years.
For all his voluntary and supportive actions as well as his tremendous ability to promote the practice of sport for all, the grateful Municipality is very pleased to award Mr. Daniel Cornaz, the 10e Citizen merit.
