Written By Jeffrey Reed
As we wind down the season of giving, we often ask why philanthropic deeds don’t endure during the entire calendar year. In fact, many within our Middlesex County community – including members of the local sports community – work year-round at bettering the lives of our neighbours in need.
You don’t have to look very far to find those good deeds. For every Teddy Bear Toss hockey game or food drive, there are multitudes of local heroes working hard 365 days a year. For a local child, a favourite Strathroy Rocket or Mt. Brydges Bulldog may be their sports hero. But within our sports community, there are endless heroes who, through many levels of mentoring, make our community a better place to live.
For this reason, LondonOntarioSports.com has established the Community Spirit Award – an annual award recognizing Southwestern Ontario individuals or groups who change and better the lives of others through sports, leisure and recreation. Winners may include athletes, coaches and administrators who work hard to mentor others, trainers and staff members who work hard behind the scenes, and teachers and volunteers at the elementary and high school levels who ensure student athletes excel on and off the playing field.
As I drive through Strathroy, I am overwhelmed with residents and workers who exude community spirit. For example, the Strathroy-Caradoc Family YMCA boasts staff and instructors who work hard at bettering our lives through exercise, healthy eating and both physical and mental health. Teachers and volunteers who coach our student athletes at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute and Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School use sports to not only win championships but also to teach life lessons including sportsmanship, the benefits of a hard work ethic and the ability to never give up on your dreams.
As a disabled athlete who pitched and coached with the London Majors of the semi-professional Intercounty Baseball League, and who later became a golf professional, I would not have achieved those goals without the many mentors in my life. In fact, mentorship comes in different forms – from a kind word of encouragement, to a coach who works with you weekly to push you to greater heights.
Wayne Gretzky once quipped, “You miss 100-per-cent of the shots you don’t take.” Certainly, our local heroes – whether in the spotlight or not – aren’t afraid to take the shot when it comes to helping others.
LondonOntarioSports.com looks forward to presenting the first annual winner of the Community Spirit Award in May 2025 – the winner will be announced in early-February. We welcome the Middlesex County community to suggest winners of this new award, and we welcome the opportunity to applaud the efforts of our local heroes.
Award-winning writer
Jeffrey Reed has covered Middlesex County sports since 1980. He is publisher and editor of LondonOntarioSports.com. Reach him at
jeff@londonontariosports.com.
