In September, during National Coaches Week, I received the 2018 Trailblazer Coach of the Year award from the Coaches Association of Ontario at a ceremony held at the University of Toronto. Receiving this recognition from the Coaches Association of Ontario for my work in advancing the coaching of brushing in the sport is truly very special. At the same time, it is also very humbling to share the stage with the other outstanding 2018 award winners. All of the award recipients had short films made about them – you can find them on the CAO’s awards page – and each of them tells an inspirational story, the very best that amateur sport can offer. My warmest thanks to everyone who took the time to wish me congratulations.
Along with the video, each coach had a large motion picture playbill made up for them, put together by Hiep Vu Photography. Each poster was unique, suited to each recipient and their coaching context. Hiep’s creation for me was a James Bond image from the movie “Licence to Kill”.
I am grateful that I was able to share this award with Mackenzie Kiemele, Emma McKenzie, Audrey Wallbank, and Jessica Filipcic of Team Kiemele, along with their parents. It’s my second season coaching Mackenzie and Audrey, third coaching Jess, and sixth coaching Emma. I am extremely fortunate to be able to work with such an outstanding team of young women who inspire me to do my very best for them each and every day. One could not ask for a more personable, dedicated, and talented team of athletes. I am so proud to be their coach.
I am also grateful for the coaches I’ve learned from over my career of (now) some sixteen years, many of whom I am privileged to call my friends. These include Mort Cooper and his wife Donna, Bill Tschirhart, Marc Bernard, Jason Rice, Jim Waite, Maurice Wilson, Jennifer Ferris, John Newhook, Perry Marshall, Michel Ladouceur, Byron Scott, and – more than anyone – Gary Crossley, who has been my coaching mentor for many years. I think Gary has forgotten more about coaching over his 40-year coaching career in athletics and curling than I’ve ever learned, and I remain very grateful to him for all of the help he’s given me over the years. I must also especially thank John Newhook, now the Dean of Engineering at Dalhousie University, for being both a collaborator and a friend, as together we continue to work on the study of rocks, friction, and brushing in curling.
Finally, and most importantly, I am grateful to my wife Leslie for tolerating all of the time I spend at the rink doing what I love to do.