Accepting the Brown Cup Reserve race trophy, as boat captain, from Rob Weitemeyer
Behind: Brett Larson, Eric Laurin, Myself, Sam Hogman Front: Alex Clancy The JV4+ accepting our first place medals.
A beautiful sunrise at Elk Lake
Accepting the Brown Cup Reserve race trophy, as boat captain, from Rob Weitemeyer
The quad I crashed as a youth. Luckily nobody was hurt, and it remained relatively unscathed.
A view from my grandfather's bench, looking towards Smithers Landing, where the crash occurred.
The quad I crashed as a youth. Luckily nobody was hurt, and it remained relatively unscathed.
Prince George Sprucekings Junior "A" Hockey
Hockey is very team orientated, as combined effort determines success rather than individual skill. Individuals with good communication skills are able to rise above sheer talent, contributing more to overall team success. Good communication skills among athletes allow them to become better teammates who are more capable of unselfishly supporting team goals. I learned how to be a good teammate while playing Junior “A” hockey in Prince George. As a weaker player on the team, I had to put the team’s needs ahead of my own. Unselfish play proved to be difficult on occasion as I was aspiring to earn a NCAA scholarship to the states. This experience taught me to show unconditional support for my teammates, and to put team goals before my own desires. Junior hockey is where I learned that a team is truly greater than the summation of its parts, something that I have carried forward into my rowing career.
University of Victoria Men's Rowing
My rowing career rose from the ashes of my junior hockey career. As a high performance athlete, I believed my competitive days had come to an end, until I stumbled upon rowing. Rowing forced me to learn a completely foreign sporting language. Sporting conversations changed from assessing offensive or defensive tactics, to discussing splits, stroke rates, and power curves. It was a language that at first I did not understand, taught through a coaching style that I was unaccustomed to. A change in the coaching staff at the University of Victoria brought with it a shift in culture. The shift brought about increased coach-athlete dialogue, and a responsibility to hold each other accountable. The opportunity to help lead the culture shift has been extremely rewarding. As a sport, rowing draws on every ounce of your physical strength, forcing you to trust your fitness and exert yourself through invisible barriers in search of the point where the last stroke of the race is the last cohesive stroke you can produce. The physical challenge of rowing is exceeded only by the mental toughness it demands.
The Quad Crash
Crashing a quad during my early teenage years is the most significant single learning experience I have had to date. That day, I learned the importance of integrity and accountability for my actions. Instead of notifying my parents of the day’s events, I chose to say nothing. I thought that if I ignored how I had endangered my life and that of a friend’s, it would be as though it had never happened. Naturally, being able to hide a motor vehicle accident that threw my friend 10 meters was not a realistic expectation and my parents found out. Instead of berating me for breaking my grandfather’s quad, they taught me a powerful lesson by only being angry that I had not told them what happened. From this unfortunate event I learned that the best solution is not always the easiest solution, but it should be strived for, as it is the difficult decisions that shape individual character and therefore should be of upmost priority.
Competencies
Explored through life experiences
Although not Smithers Electric company business, my father and I along with a couple other close friends and family members built the concrete pad for my grandfather's commemorative bench to overlook Babine Lake and his beloved cabin.
Smithers Electric is the electrical contracting company that my father bought from his father, my grandfather, in 1983. My grandfather and a partner started the company.
Although not Smithers Electric company business, my father and I along with a couple other close friends and family members built the concrete pad for my grandfather's commemorative bench to overlook Babine Lake and his beloved cabin.
In 1990-91 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) initiated the Academic All-Canadian program, which recognizes individual student-athletes who achieve an 80 percent academic average (6.6 GPA on the UVic scale) while contributing significantly to a varsity athletic team in a given scholastic year. Vikes Athletics has expanded the Academic All-Canadian program to include those student-athletes competing on varsity teams not sanctioned by the CIS.
In 1990-91 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) initiated the Academic All-Canadian program, which recognizes individual student-athletes who achieve an 80 percent academic average (6.6 GPA on the UVic scale) while contributing significantly to a varsity athletic team in a given scholastic year. Vikes Athletics has expanded the Academic All-Canadian program to include those student-athletes competing on varsity teams not sanctioned by the CIS.
In 1990-91 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) initiated the Academic All-Canadian program, which recognizes individual student-athletes who achieve an 80 percent academic average (6.6 GPA on the UVic scale) while contributing significantly to a varsity athletic team in a given scholastic year. Vikes Athletics has expanded the Academic All-Canadian program to include those student-athletes competing on varsity teams not sanctioned by the CIS.
In 1990-91 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) initiated the Academic All-Canadian program, which recognizes individual student-athletes who achieve an 80 percent academic average (6.6 GPA on the UVic scale) while contributing significantly to a varsity athletic team in a given scholastic year. Vikes Athletics has expanded the Academic All-Canadian program to include those student-athletes competing on varsity teams not sanctioned by the CIS.
Working for My Father's Company
Working with my father has been an enriching experience. It has presented me with the opportunity to learn from his expertise; however, there have been trials and tribulations, as my father expected high quality work in a short time frame. Although, I am generally proud of my work, I found it difficult to complete tasks up to the standard that my father, an experienced electrician, expected of me. It was especially difficult to meet the quality demanded in the time frame desired, but through his guidance, I learned that commitment to quality is truly the best way to build a reputation and a business.
Honours Degree in Kinesiology
At the University of Victoria
The pursuit of academic excellence while competing in varsity sports has developed my time management skills. As a student athlete whose week is composed of approximately 20 hours of training, 18 hours of class, 7-8 hours of volunteering, and 4-5 hours of officiating it is important to manage mental and physical fatigue. Procrastination is the antagonist to the student athlete's life. A simple step to defeat my antagonist has been the development of a schedule. Scheduling is something I have experimented with, with limited success as I have extreme pride in producing a high quality of work. My commitment to quality challenges my time management skills. Throughout my education, I have been reminded of one thing. I love to learn and my thirst for understanding is insatiable whether it has been during elementary school, high school, or during my undergraduate education. Learning is something that I enjoy, and want to continue to do for the rest of my life no matter how big or small the concept.