Hockey Alberta is proud to celebrate National Volunteer Week with highlights of some of their volunteers.
Connie Anderson
Through 14 years of volunteering with Hockey Alberta, Connie Anderson has had so many memorable moments that he can’t pick a favourite. His passion for volunteering makes every day on the job special.
“There are many memorable moments that come to mind... They are all good,” Anderson remarked.
His volunteer career with Hockey Alberta began when he was a league governor for the Central Alberta Hockey League and met the person who held the position before him. It just so happened that he was retiring soon, so Connie decided to try. Thus began his 14 years of volunteer service with Hockey Alberta.
His initial role was Zone 6 Discipline, and now the is the Chair of the Minor Discipline Committee.
“Connie has been super fun to work with on the Minor Discipline Committee. His many years of experience have ensured he makes fair judgment, while also keeping things light (as much as possible). I thoroughly enjoy our weekly chats and the stories he recounts to me,” said Morgen Kidney, Hockey Alberta Minor Leagues Coordinator.
He knew from a young age that he wanted to help give back to the people that helped him out throughout his time playing Minor Hockey. His position allows him to give back to the community while meeting people from all walks of life, which adds to his love of the job.
“The best thing about the job is meeting different people all the time,” said Anderson.
Outside of his volunteer work with Hockey Alberta, he keeps busy by being a business owner, avid golfer, fastball umpire, and is a Town of Sundre Councillor.
Jill Wallace
Jill Wallace has spent the last 16 years of her life dedicated to volunteering in minor hockey in Alberta. Aside from her time volunteering, she is a dedicated hockey mom of 3, a wife, and a business owner.
Her volunteering career began in 2009. All her children played hockey, but when her daughter began playing, she had the opportunity to help start up a female program.
“Once we had that first year under our belt I was hooked. Watching the girls flourish within their team and female league was amazing to see,” said Wallace.
Her extensive volunteer experience includes her first position as a manager and board member with Battle River Knights Minor Hockey Association. She then went on to serve in many positions with the East Central Alberta Female League including governor, president, and treasurer. This experience helped her to become much more involved with Hockey Alberta and led to her finding her current position as the Vice Chair of the Female Minor Leagues Committee.
With her position volunteering at Hockey Alberta, she helps with chair meetings with the female league presidents to create more ways to expand female development and female hockey programs across Alberta.
Her passion for volunteering lies in wanting every team to thrive.
“My absolute favorite part of volunteering within the female structure is watching the teams grow and succeed. It is so fun to watch them love the game and improve every yea,” said Wallace. “It’s also so fun to watch it grow, especially in rural Alberta where it is a challenge to be able to have enough players to form teams.”
She hopes that every kid she has helped is enjoying the game, growing their confidence, and having fun. Her favourite part of volunteering in the hockey community is handing the winning team the banner, no matter what level of tournament it is. “Can’t beat those smiles!” she says.
“I do it for the kids, every day of the week.”
Ian Martinot
Ian Martinot has spent 45 years of his life volunteering in his community. He knew from 13 years old that he wanted to give back to his community, and volunteering through his love of sports seemed to be the best way.
“Ever since I was 13 years of age my birth date never worked out for me to play organized sports, so my father told me to get involved in the communities that you live in, so that’s where it all started. I love giving back to my community,” said Ian.
His vast volunteering career spreads from being the President of both the Fastball and Slo-pitch leagues in Whitecourt, Alberta to being the President of Whitecourt Minor Hockey, where he also served as Referee in Chief and the Referee Assigner. He was a referee for 53 years before his well-deserved retirement.
While working as a Hockey Alberta official, his goal was to recruit and mentor young officials.
“Volunteering is a way to give back to a community, as well as going out and meeting new people,” said Ian.
This passion for sports led him to work more closely with Hockey Alberta where he was the Zone 3 Manager for 2 years and currently sits as the Discipline Coordinator for the Northeast Zone.
His passion for volunteering did not go unrecognized by his community as he was awarded with four volunteer recognition awards including the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce Sportsman of the Year Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sports in 1987.
Ian is currently enjoying his retirement in Stony Plain with his wife Laurie.
