Brian McMillan of Frontier School Division out of Cranberry Portage, Manitoba was presented with the Frank L. McKinnon Award. This award, named in honor of MHSAA past president Frank McKinnon of Carman. Brian is the physical education coordinator for the Frontier School Division, and a former phys ed instructor and coach in Cranberry-Portage. He has been an excellent liaison between Northern Manitoba and all other regions of the Province, and is very passionate about physical education and sport. Brian, a BU grad, has sat on the MHSAA Board, and as well has been Zone president, and a long time coach.
Pat Alexander of Northlands Parkway Collegiate in Winkler, Manitoba was presented the Nick Laping Leadership award, for his outstanding volunteerism in high school sports. This award is named after Nick Laping who was a long time educator and basketball coach at John Taylor Collegiate. Nick also coached at St. Paul’s, and then went to work for the private sector and was always supportive of MHSAA. Pat has been teaching and coaching for 20 years, and has been the convener of at least 8 Provincial Championships. He handles all of the entries and results for Provincial Track, and his teams have won numerous track titles, and a basketball championship. He has become the ‘go to guy’ for the MHSAA when it comes to Track and is a real leader and motivator in his Zone and the Province.
The 2014 Grey Cup Legacy High School Coach of the Year, was awarded to Marc Giasson, principal of Grandview School in Grandview, Manitoba. Marc has been coaching for 25 years, in a variety of sports including basketball, fastball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. He was selected as Zone 8 volunteer of the year in 2003, and Coaches Association “A” basketball coach of the year in 2002 and 2007. His Grandview Spartans won the JV title this past season, and the varsity team were bronze medalists. They were also champions in 2008, and bronze medalists 2011 and 2013 and silver in 2012. Grandview is a school of less than 100 students. Marc is an extremely hard working individual that leads by example and will receive a $2000.00 prize as part of the Grey Cup legacy.
Receiving Certificates of recognition for long time contribution to high school sports were, Corey Forbes of Glenboro School, Jason Darragh of Teulon Collegiate, Al Patterson of Portage Collegiate, Rene Comeault of Warren Collegiate, Rod Ledochowski of Teulon Collegiate and Scott Kawsnitza of Lord Selkirk School Division.
Approximately 120 Teacher coaches and administrators have been in Russell June 16 and 17 to discuss policies and philosophies pertaining to high school sports.
The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association is a voluntary not for profit organization which is comprised of 190 Senior High Schools from across the Province. Over 30,000 student athletes and around 2,800 volunteer coaches are involved with the association. The association receives funding through lottery dollars distributed through Sport Manitoba, corporate partners, membership fees, and other general revenue.
Source: http://www.mhsaa.ca/news/content-id-652/High-School-Volunteers-Awards-Presented/