David Miege is humbled to be named this year's top volunteer in B.C.'s rowing community, an honour he proudly shares with fellow Salmon Arm Rowing Club members.
Miege has been selected by Rowing BC to receive the Sport BC President's Award, given to volunteers from Sport BC members and partner organizations who demonstrate the . The awards will be handed out at a ceremony on March 6.
"As a group B次元官网网址� I know itB次元官网网址檚 being given to me B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 really nice our efforts in Salmon Arm are being recognized," said Miege.
Doris Mills who, with Daphne Brown, founded the local rowing club (now in the process of rebranding from Shuswap Rowing and Paddling), said without Miege's volunteer time and energy, the rowing program would not be where it is today.
Mills shared a lengthy list of the things Miege does for the club and the community.
"David has put in many hours as a volunteer coach for the Shuswap Rowing Club," shared Mills in an email. "He coaches Juniors, Masters, as well as the inclusion program for athletes with disabilities.
"David spearheaded the high school rowing program and has coached local athletes to podium finishes at the BC Summer Games and BC Championships. David has been on the board of directors of the Shuswap Association for Rowing and Paddling for over 10 years, as well as a member of the Interior Development Committee for Rowing BC. He advocates for rowing and works to acquire grants for rowing shells and safety equipment which is vital to the rowing programs. David has coached rowing at the BC Summer Games and supports our local rowers in local, provincial, and national rowing regattas. He is always ready to step in and assist where needed to ensure the rowing program succeeds."
Miege, however, stressed the club has fantastic volunteers and its programs couldn't run on just the shoulders of one person.
"It always has to be several people who step up and make it work," said Miege, noting Mills has been instrumental as a co-coach with the junior racing team, while Anita Ely and Elaine Spearing ran successful Learn-to-Row programs.
A program Miege is particularly proud of involves working with Salmon Arm Secondary's Individual Achievement Program (IAP). For the past two years, Miege and other club volunteers have been introducing IAP students to rowing. It began with land-based instruction using rowing machines.
said Miege in a story shared by Rowing Canada.
The program is now in its third year, said Miege, noting it has introduced kids with various physical and cognitive disabilities to the sport.
"Having them be able to be part of this sport on the water, it was pretty heartwarming for us and for the volunteers that were involved. It was really a cool thing," said Miege. "ThatB次元官网网址檚 a whole lot more important to me than the award, is being able to do stuff in our community and being inclusive and diverse B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 one of our biggest objectives. So yeah, IB次元官网网址檓 pretty excited about that particular part of our program."
The club is working towards a similar project with the Shuswap Association for Community Living.
Miege has been involved in the sport for 40 years, influenced by his grandfather who was a champion rower in New Zealand.
"It was a big deal for me when I was younger," said Miege, who rowed for Team Canada 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba.
"I met Fidel Castro B次元官网网址� he put a medal around my neck," said Miege. "Then I was training for the 1992 Olympics where Canada won gold medals with both men's and women's eights. That was the year Silken Laumann won a bronze medal even though her leg had been injured.
Miege compared these big moments in his life to receiving the Sport BC President's Award.
"This feels quite different, this is deeper to the soulB次元官网网址�," said Miege. "That was more about me B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檇 say weB次元官网网址檙e rowing for our country, but it really was how great can I be. Now itB次元官网网址檚 more about how great can I make my community which is way more fulfilling.
"It feels wonderful just having these kids that go off to university and get to experience a little bit of what I experienced, first as a university rower and then as a rower for Team Canada. That was an amazing thing. To be able to come back and give that experience to other people, itB次元官网网址檚 a whole lot better."
For more information about the club, visit shuswaprowingandpaddling.com.
