|
| |
|
VOLUNTEER AWARDS
|
| HOCKEY
CANADA'S 2004 NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS |
New
Brunswick man named as national winner of
THE RBC LOCAL HOCKEY LEADER |
| |
| VOLUNTEERS
|
|
Jim
McGinnis
| Bruce
Page |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
HOCKEY
CANADA'S 2004 NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS
On May 23,
2004, Hockey Canada handed out its annual awards,
recognizing outstanding volunteers and achievements
in minor hockey in Canada. Nominations were submitted
to Hockey Canada by its 13 member Branches, and
the winners were voted on by Hockey Canada's officers
or the appropriate council.
Hockey Canada
Award winners for 2003-2004 were:
Truro, NS Volunteer of the Year
Award
, ON Gordon Juckes Award
(contribution to development of hockey)
, MB Female Breakthrough Award
(promotion/contribution to female hockey)
Bonavista, NL Order of Merit (Atlantic)
Ottawa, ON Order of Merit (Central)
Winnipeg, MB Hal Lewis Award
Hockey Quebec Liz McKinnon Award
, of Truro, NS received Hockey Canada's
Volunteer of the Year Award, which recognizes
an outstanding volunteer who has contributed to
amateur hockey and Hockey Canada. Taylor has been
involved in the administration of hockey in Nova
Scotia for a number of years, becoming a key contributor
on Hockey Nova Scotia's Board of Directors in
1995. Through his leadership and direction, Hockey
Nova Scotia's financial position improved greatly.
Taylor was also the Chair of Finance for the 2003
World Junior Championship and the 2004 World Women's
Hockey Championship in Halifax.
, of St-Pascal, ON, received the
Gordon Juckes Award which recognizes the outstanding
contribution of an individual to the development
of amateur hockey in Canada at the National Level.
Martin was the head coach of the NHL's Ottawa
Senators for almost eight seasons and was an associate
coach with Canada's gold medal winning Men's Olympic
Team in 2002. Beyond his involvement on the professional
and international hockey stage, Martin has unselfishly
contributed time and effort to the National Coaching
Certification Program, has actively supported
national and branch coaching programs in the Ottawa
area and has been a regular presenter at Coaching
Seminars throughout Canada. Martin will be an
associate coach with Team Canada at the World
Cup of Hockey 2004.
The late
, of
Pinawa, MB, was the recipient of Hockey Canada's
Female Breakthrough Award, which honours an individual
who has made a significant contribution to the
promotion and/or development of female hockey
in Canada. Acres was a very large contributor
in coaching women's hockey, in provincial high
performance programs, in the establishment of
female hockey skills clinics and female hockey
development programs throughout Manitoba.
Hockey Canada
Order of Merit Award was instituted in 1960 to
"honor those individuals who for many years
have served amateur hockey faithfully, having
participated as players, served as coaches and
association members, and made outstanding contributions
to Canadian amateur hockey." The Order of
Merit Award is honoured in three regions of the
country annually: Western, Central and Atlantic.
This year's Hockey Canada Order of Merit recipients
were (Atlantic)
of Bonavista, NL and (Central), of Ottawa, ON.
, of Bonavista, NL, played, coached
and managed in Newfoundland, and spent 13 years
as president of Bonavista Minor Hockey. After
two years as the Vice Chair at Large with Hockey
Newfoundland and Labrador, Ryder has been president
of the Hockey Canada branch since 2000.
, of Ottawa, ON, has dedicated
40 years to hockey in the Ottawa area. Lavictoire
was actively involved in his local minor hockey
associations from 1964 through 1990. During this
time, Lavictoire was involved in the setting up
of a hockey school, and very involved in Junior
hockey in the area. Elected Vice President of
the Ottawa District Hockey Association in 1996,
Lavictoire has been the president of the ODHA
since 1991.
The Hal Lewis
Award recognizes outstanding contributions to
the game of hockey by a staff member of Hockey
Canada. This year's award went to Hockey Canada
employee .
Brin worked with Hockey Canada for five years
as Manager, Media relations, and recently left
the organization to take on a new challenge with
the Francophone Games in his hometown of Winnipeg,
MB.
The Liz MacKinnon
Award is presented in honour of the late Liz MacKinnon,
wife of Hockey Canada's Past Chair, the late Bob
MacKinnon and recognizes a Hockey Canada delegate's
companion for his or her support. For 2003-2004,
the Award went to .
Back
to Top?
|
| Hockey
Canada and RBC Financial Group name New Brunswick
man as national winner of THE RBC Local Hockey Leaders
program
Hockey Canada
and RBC Financial Group today named Art Comeau
of Saint John, New Brunswick the national winner
of the first ever RBC Local Hockey Leaders program.
Comeau was
chosen from the 13 regional winners of the RBC
Local Hockey Leaders program, announced on February
11, 2004. As national winner, Comeau will receive
a $25,000 donation from RBC for a local hockey
cause in his name, in addition to the $5,000 donation
he already received as a regional winner.
Comeau was
honored as the national winner of the RBC Local
Hockey Leaders program based on his coordination
of a school hockey league that allows more than
400 Saint John youth to play hockey on eight junior
high and 28 elementary teams.
“For 34 years,
Art has been coordinating school hockey for underprivileged
kids,” said Mike Dawson in his submission essay.
“Art is a true local hero and there are thousands
of individuals who have been able to experience
hockey over the past 30 years in the Saint John
area that can attest to this.”
Hockey Canada,
RBC Financial Group, the Hockey Hall of Fame and
hockey commentator Ron MacLean launched the RBC
Local Hockey Leaders Program to recognize behind-the-scenes
individuals who dedicate their time to grassroots
hockey in their community. A panel including Ron
MacLean, Hockey Hall of Fame representative, Ron
Ellis, Olympic Gold Medalist Hayley Wickenheiser
and Hockey Canada officials reviewed submissions
and selected winners based on hard work, dependability,
enthusiasm, leadership and commitment to making
hockey an accessible, community-binding and positive
experience in the community.
“Art Comeau
has had a positive impact on a lot of young hockey
players in his community, and we’re proud to recognize
his commitment,” said Ann Louise Vehovec, senior
vice-president, RBC Financial Group. “Art exemplifies
everything the RBC Local Hockey Leaders program
represents: commitment, passion and leadership.”
"Congratulations
to Art Comeau for being chosen as the national
winner of the RBC Local Hockey Leaders program,"
said Bob Nicholson, president, Hockey Canada.
"The dedication of volunteers involved in
hockey, such as Art Comeau, is the reason why
the game of hockey from coast to coast in our
country is so strong."
The
regional winners, one from each of the Hockey
Canada 13 regions, all received an autographed
Team Canada jersey and, along with Comeau, will
be recognized in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
|
Region
|
RBC Local Hockey
Leader
|
Nominated By
|
| New Brunswick |
Art Comeau,
Saint John, NB |
Mike Dawson |
| Hockey North |
Joe Walsh,
Yellowknife NWT |
Joe Latremouille |
| British Columbia |
Jane Herman,
Chase, BC |
Jane Torbohm |
| Alberta |
Kevin Yellowaga,
Pincher Creek, AB |
Rick Carter |
| Saskatchewan |
Vince Stevenson,
Shaunavon, SK |
Cam Dickie |
| Manitoba |
Alan Vergouwen,
Toutes Aides, MB |
Beverly Didychuk |
| Ontario |
Martin Porteous,
Orangeville, ON |
Lisa Henrick |
| Northwestern Ontario |
Grant Sherred,
Kenora, ON |
Gary Norris |
| Ottawa District |
Craig & Janet Shouldice,
Nepean, ON |
Mario Arnone |
| Quebec |
Martin Longchamps,
Montreal, PQ |
Phillipe Levesque |
| Nova Scotia |
Clint Lettice,
Sydney Mines, NS
|
David Lewis |
| Prince Edward Island |
Susan Dalziel,
Borden, PEI |
Mike Connolly |
| Newfoundland & Labrador |
Gerrard Morry,
Stephenville, NFLD |
Phyllis Hapgood
|
|
|
| |
Read
about
"Tater" People!
Know
of a worthy volunteer?
Let us know and we will highlight them here.
Volunteer
Recognition
When
you hear the word volunteer, you probably think "Well
I just don't have the time, I'm too busy doing my own
work, watching TV, my housework, washing my hair ...
whatever!"
Volunteers
are a special group of people. If you have ever volunteered
you'll understand what I mean. Volunteers are people
who spend hours of time assisting others at the expense
of their own time and energy. They don't get paid and
often don't get recognized. But that is not important
to a volunteer! They are in it for the sheer joy of
giving of themselves and in seeing the appreciation
in the eyes of those they are helping.
ON-ICE
Magazine would like to recognize some very special people
for their volunteering and for their unselfish efforts
and commitment.
|
VOLUNTEER
- JIM MCGINNIS
We
recently heard about Jim McGinnis, a retired Tool
and Die Maker from Kitchener, Ontario. When I
first heard of Jim it was through emails from
Jim's wife, Linda, to the ON-ICE web site and
I was intrigued that this individual was taking
a young boy, not his son, to hockey games and
just being a good neighbour. Jim McGinnis is one
of these special neighbours who regularly helps
out when a neighbour is in need. Going that extra
mile with no expectation of reward is what Jim
is all about. Here is his story.
LIFE
LONG VOLUNTEER
Jim
has been volunteering most of his life. He began
coaching in the St. Mary's Church league and coached
for 11 years with 6 to 8 year old hockey and baseball
players. He coached in the Brantford Minor Hockey
League. This may play a part in his coaching career
yet to come. During this time Jim started teaching
his own two boys to skate from the age of three
on. After spending 39 years as a Tool and Die
Maker, Jim im retired to Port Elgin Ontario, about
a 2-hour drive northwest of Kitchener. He had
been traveling back and forth from Kitchener for
a few years but finally made the move, permanently.
PEOPLE
ARE VERY FRIENDLY...
People
are very friendly in small town Port Elgin, where
Carol and her 9 year old son Steven welcomed Jim
and Linda as new neighbours. Steven was always
eager to offer his help to pile and cut wood for
the fireplace, water the trees, work in the garden,
help shovel snow. Their friendship really blossomed
when Jim began to take Steven fishing with him.
Jim also attended Steven's baseball games as a
way to encourage him. When hockey season started,
Jim was again there to encourage the whole team.
Jim recently attended an all-day Volleyball tournament
and now looks forward to Steven's basketball season.
This
past hockey season, Steven was very anxious to
have a hockey rink in his backyard. Steven and
Jim co-ordinated their skills, plotted and planned
and measured and screwed the planks left over
from an old backyard fence, ready for the cold
weather. Unfortunately it ended up being a "green
rink" because the weather didn't co-operate long
enough to get the rink flooded and stay frozen.
But there is always next year.
"It's
not winning that matters.
They just love to play and that's what hockey's
all about!"
Steven
is now 11 years old and an Atom hockey player
with the "T-D Bank Canada Trust Saugeen Shore
Storm" hockey team in the OMHA. He plays left
wing but now with three players hurt, one of them
a girl who broke her arm riding a horse, he's
filling in on defense.
Port Elgin has about 100 players in their league,
which plays other towns like Kincardine and Southhampton.
They have not won a game all year but have tied
two. Jim says, "It's not winning that matters.
They just love to play and that's what hockey's
all about!"
To
read more about Steven CLICK
HERE
MORE
VOLUNTEERING?
The
shortage of coaches in Port Elgin has required
Jim to reconsider his position on hockey. Steven
has even asked him if he would coach and Jim is
considering. But from what I know about volunteers
like Jim I'm sure there won't be much time before
he's back behind the bench and loving it.
A
ROLE MODEL
Jim
is not only giving of his time but he is demonstrating
to Steven a volunteer philosophy and spirit that
will likely, one day, see Steven take up volunteering
with the same enthusiasm and dedication as his
mentor, Jim.
Thanks, Jim McGinnis.
You are what hockey is all about!
|
Back
to Top?
"TATER"
PEOPLE
Some
people never seem motivated to participate, but are
just content to watch while others do the work.
They are called "Speck Taters".
Some
people never do anything to help, but are gifted at
finding fault with the way others do the work.
They are called "Comment Taters".
Some
people are very bossy and like to tell others what to
do, but don't want to soil their own hands.
They are called "Dick Taters".
Some
people are always looking to cause problems by asking
others to agree with them. It is too hot or too cold,
too sour or too sweet.
They are called "Agie Taters".
There
are those who say they will help, but somehow just never
get around to actually doing what they promised.
They are called "Hezzie Taters".
Some
people can put up a front and pretend to be someone
they are not.
They are called "Emma Taters".
Back
to Top?
VOLUNTEER
- BRUCE PAGE
Minor
Hockey Volunteer reflects on shared values and good
sportsmanship.
Most
people who volunteer will tell you that donating their
personal time to a cause they love is definitely worth
the effort.
But
not every volunteer has the insight to talk about how
volunteering has changed his or her life.
"When
I first came to Calgary, I was quite young - in my early
20s," says Bruce Page. "And I think it's safe to say
that I wasn't all that knowledgeable about the world.
"My
volunteer work has shaped me into a better person"
"But
my work as a volunteer for the Minor Hockey Association
of Calgary has, I believe, shaped me into a better person.
I feel it's given me a philosophy of fair play and teamwork
that I didn't have before."
Page is currently Vice President of the Minor Hockey
Association of Calgary: this is an organization of 12,500
kids over 30 divisions. He started to volunteer his
time with the organization in 1992.
"I
coached for four years, then became a director for Minor
Hockey in 1996. Then from '96 to '98, I was a director
for the Novice division, which included at that time
about 800 kids ages 8 and 9."
These days, he's responsible for the developmental side
of the association within the Double A Minor Hockey
division. "The biggest new issue right now in minor
hockey development is coach certification. Every volunteer
coach has to be trained in our regulations and code
of ethics, which is a major time commitment on everybody's
part."
He also instructs coaches for hockey players at the
initiation level (ages five to nine), and is the director
of Alberta Cup, which involves 20 of the province's
most skilled hockey players in a province-wide tournament.
On top of all that, Page also does some volunteer work
with Hockey Alberta, the governing body for hockey in
the province. "I run a few programs in the city, one
of which is called the Fair Play Jamboree. It's a day-long
education seminar for the kids: we bring about 150 of
them into the Saddledome with the Calgary Flames and
teach them about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
both on and off the ice.
"I
also help to organize a charity golf tournament at the
beginning of June. It's another event well supported
by the Flames - a number of players always participate
to show their support of our organization."
Given this seemingly frantic pace of volunteer activity
(at least 10 to 12 hours per week during the busy hockey
season), how is it that Page has the time to reflect
on things like personal growth?
Minor
Hockey - learning what's fair, team work,
developing into a healthy man or woman...
"Well,
but that's a big part of minor hockey - learning what's
fair, learning how to work in a team, learning how to
develop into a healthy young man or woman," he insists.
"Because
let's face it, 99.9 per cent of the kids playing minor
hockey will never make it to the big leagues. The vast
majority of them play for recreational purposes and
because they love the game.
Kids
will "feel a real sense of accomplishment
as they progress through their years of hockey"
"We
concentrate on moving the kids from their current level
up to the next, so they can feel a real sense of accomplishment
as they progress through their years of hockey. And
we also believe they can truly benefit from hockey if
they're given the standards of sportsmanship and self-esteem
along the way."
But in his personal travels, has Page seen that point-one
per cent player who's destined for the big time? "I
coached a young man by the name of Ryan Stone from 1992
to 1994, and I think he's got a good chance of playing
in the WHL, maybe further.
"But
you know, one of the most fulfilling things about coaching
hockey is seeing the kids later, at the mall or around
town. Now they're becoming young adults and they approach
me to tell me about their lives, that they're finding
jobs or whatever.
"So
many of them say, 'When I played for you, you helped
me get on to the next level, and that meant a lot to
me.' When they say that, then you know it's been worth
it."
Page says he and the association have also benefitted
from his company's Community Service Fund (which provides
grants of up to $1,000 to not-for-profit groups where
employees regularly volunteer).
"We've
used CSF funding to purchase necessities for our office
staff: things like a FAX machine, office furniture,
printers, etc. As you may realize, with 12,500 kids
in our association, we do a lot of administrative and
communications work. It's work they may not see but
from which they all benefit."
The year 2001 is the International Year of Volunteers.
ON-ICE magazine salutes Bruce Page and the Mom's, Dad's,
brothers and sisters who volunteer across the country
for their stewardship and ongoing contributions to Canadian
society.
CALGARY, ALBERTA, June 19, 2001 | Thanks
to Shell Canada Ltd
|
