Glen Perrin Honoured
Killarney coach Glen Perrin was honoured last Thursday (August 5, 2004) by the Royal Canadian Legion Sports Foundation at the International Peace Garden with Coach of the Year accolades.
Perrin, 54, head coach of the Elementary Program at the 43rd Legion Athletic Camp, was humbled by the presentation, which was made by camp founding father and head coach George Phillips.
"It is a real honour to win the award and it was really unexpected," said Perrin, a Grade 4 and Early Years Physical Education instructor at Killarney School.
"It is hard to believe that I have been here (Legion Athletic Camp) 14 years (summers) in this role as it seems like only a few years ago that we started this elementary program.
"I think it (Legion Athletic Camp) is one of the finest summer sports camps in Canada and with the number of athletes that comes through each year (1,200 this summer and an estimated 30,000 since its inaugural year) it is obvious that it has maintained a name for itself."
Perrin joins a long list of recognized coaches a total of 112 top notch coaches will attend camp this summer who have won the annual award.
"Glen is very instrumental in the future of our camp. He introduces the elementary athletes to a wide-range of activities so when they reach Grade 7 they have the opportunity to choose which sport they will concentrate on when returning to camp in future years," says camp administrator Curtis J. Phillips.
Last years recipient was basketball coach Dave Malowski of Brandon.
The Legion Athletic Camp, which runs July 11 Aug 21, offers 11 different sports over six weekly sessions. The sports offered are advanced track, basketball, equestrian, gymnastics, judo, sailing, soccer, track, volleyball and wilderness.
The Elementary Camp is open to students in Grades 4-6 and offers a variety of sports.
In the role of head coach of the Legion Athletic Camp's Elementary program, Perrin has learned what appeals to and challenges the younger athletes.
"I like to see their (Grade 4-6 athletes) enthusiasm when they are exposed to a whole pile of new activities during the week they are here," says Perrin, This combination of teaching areas, he adds, has led to the development of a well-rounded camp with a major emphasis on track and field.
Perrin attended the Legion Athletic Camps track and field program in the 1960s' as an athlete.
An all-star football player during his high school days in Killarney, Perrin went on to earn a scholarship south of the border. He played tight end and fullback for the Bemidji State University Beavers.
Following graduation Perrin had a tryout with the Canadian Football Leagues Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
"That was a dream achieved, although it was short," admits Perrin of his one 1974 exhibition contest before being sidelined by injury.
Since 1974 he has been in the education system with majority of that time, 17 years, spent at Killarney School, which is one of the largest composite (K-12) schools in all of Manitoba
His love for football remains, coaching two championship teams while teaching in Dauphin.
He has coached several high school wrestling championship teams in Manitoba and British Columbia.