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.
