Bruce Ford rowed for the University of British Columbia from 1973 through 1976 as a zoology student. He made the Canadian national team in 1979 and first represented his country at that year’s Pan American Games, where he won the double sculls title alongside Pat Walter. At that year’s World Championships, the duo finished eighth and were then selected to compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics, but stayed home after Canada joined the boycott of those Games. Ford resurfaced at the 1983 World Championships in the quadruple sculls with Doug Hamilton, Mike Hughes, and Phil Monckton, where he placed fourth, and then moved on to the 1984 Summer Olympics, where his quartet captured bronze. His path to those Games were not easy, however, as his seat had originally gone to Robert Mills. After some internal turmoil, Mills eventually decided to try for Canada’s spot in the single sculls and defeated Ford’s old partner Walter, a five-time Canadian champion in the event, earning the nomination and, later, a bronze medal at the Games.
Ford returned to the double sculls, and Walter, in 1986 and together they earned gold at the Commonwealth Games and came in eighth at the World Championships. After finishing eleventh and tenth at the 1987 World Championships and the 1988 Olympic Games respectively, Ford retired from active competition. He earned a master’s degree in environmental management from Simon Fraser University in 1989 and graduated from their executive management program in 2007. Since then he has worked as an environmental biologist and has also served on the International Rowing Federation’s Environment Commission.
Canada