Sport BC held a Community Sports Hero Awards night in Maple Ridge on Thursday, June 20, at Albion Community Centre, recognizing some well-known local sports personalities, and others who are unsung heroes.
“I applaud the exceptional recipients of Sport BC Community Sport Hero Awards, each believe in the transformative power of sport and are bringing their various skill sets and talents to the amateur sport organizations for which they have volunteered," said Rob Newman, president and CEO of Sport BC. "Volunteering is the backbone of sport in B.C., and these recipients are inspiring examples of the exceptional people volunteering to deliver amateur sport in Maple Ridge."
The awards night heard about their contributions:
Dennis Hertslet is a dedicated volunteer with Ridge Meadows Minor Lacrosse, and steps into any role needed. He serves as the president's right-hand, association secretary, organizes referees and divisions manager, and assists with organizing tournaments. The association said it owes much of its success to Dennis, who shows care and support for female and co-ed teams, volunteers of all ages, and the entire association.
Ron Jones is unique among sport volunteers. He has not only played, coached, and served as a builder of sports in Maple Ridge and throughout BC, he has also been one of the leading philanthropic supporters of sport in his community and as a principal donor to the BC Sports Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.
After coaching baseball and lacrosse, Jones helped start minor football in Maple Ridge, and among his many athletes was none other than Baseball Hall of Famer Larry Walker. He also went on to serve on the event committee for the 1986 BC Summer Games. A few more of his countless contributions include his service as the president of the BC Lions, on the executive committee of the CFL Board of Governance, and 38 years of service to the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Teri Kempter is an energetic and enthusiastic individual who spreads positivity within her sphere of influence. In 2020, Kempter initiated a new artistic swimming club in Maple Ridge, and the club has more than doubled in size since its inaugural season. She works to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for multiple athletes with diverse cognitive abilities to participate in the adaptive artistic swimming program. She instills passion in others and goes above and beyond, to ensure everyone at the club feels welcome, treating everyone as family.
Gary Manson has been chair of the local KidSport chapter for the past 10 years, leading a team of volunteers who offer kids financial assistance so they can experience the joy of a season of sport. As of the end of 2023, the chapter had funded grants for nearly 1,700 kids since its inception, distributing more than $434,000 to help local kids afford sports.
Sarah Matlock is an admired and respected teacher, leader, and coach who volunteers hundreds of hours each year to coach school teams, volunteer at school district athletic events, and coordinate tournaments and four district wide cross-country meets every year. Matlock is passionate about fair and inclusive play, and ensures all students, regardless of ability, get equal time to play. She is known for her strong organizational skills, and her unyielding dedication to student athletics.
William McCrae coached wrestling at Maple Ridge Secondary for 35 years. He has run practices, wrestling meets, and coached about a thousand wrestlers from Grades 8 to 12. He has won seven provincial championships and coached about 17 national champions. He has also coached 24 medalists in national competitions, over 24 provincial champions, and more than 100 place finishers over the years. McCrae is the face of wrestling in Maple Ridge.
Katie McElgunn Jonas has coached for the Ridge Meadows Minor Baseball and softball associations. She epitomizes the notion of a coach who is involved because she truly loves the game, and enjoys providing a positive and supportive environment for youth to be active in a sport that they also love.
Shauna Williams has a long history of service to grassroots soccer in Ridge Meadows. She has dedicated more than 25 years of service to community soccer and has been involved as a player, volunteer coach, team manager, webmaster, and board member with Ridge Meadows Soccer Club. BC Soccer said they are privileged to have Shauna in their corner during the coming BC Summer Games.
Markus Zurberg took up archery seven years ago, and to the benefit of the Maple Ridge Archery club, he got addicted to the sport. He got involved as a volunteer, and was voted in as the club's president for two straight terms. His club recently hosted the BC Indoor Archery Championship with the largest participation numbers in the history of the event. He continues his involvement with the club and the board and has even joined the BC Archery board of directors. Markus has taken coaching courses and has been certified as a provincial judge. He has a passion to teach archery to veterans and para-persons.
Also honoured were Maple Ridge BC Games board president Laura Butler and vice-president Ernie Daykin.
