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Furlong said the apology is a recognition of the “deep hurt and embarrassment (the cancellation) has caused me and my family.”

“I accept UBC’s apology and regret for this decision and while very disappointed, I want to continue to put the students first,” Furlong said in a statement. “I ask that everyone, including supporters and UBC’s long-standing friends, continue to support the event as it is imperative that vital funds are raised to support and entice aspiring athletic stars to UBC.”

He said he intended to donate his speaking fee towards the scholarship event and UBC announced Tuesday afternoon that in lieu of Furlong speaking, it would “commit to dedicating his full fee to the athletics fundraising effort, in addition to the university’s standing commitment to match all funds raised at the event.”

Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Files

Ono said he will be working with the UBC leadership team to ensure the university does better in the future.

“While some take issue with Mr. Furlong, he also has a great number of supporters in the community, and there can be no question over his record of public service and his extraordinary contributions to amateur sport, to B.C. and to Canada,” Ono said in the statement.

The allegations against Furlong arose in a 2012 Georgia Straight article in which freelance writer Laura Robinson reported claims that Furlong had physically abused First Nations students in northern B.C. decades earlier.

The Georgia Straight story set off a chain of legal actions that included Furlong suing Robinson, three people filing sexual-abuse lawsuits against Furlong — which were all later dropped or dismissed — and Robinson launching a counter lawsuit, alleging he had damaged her reputation in public statements.