An avid St. Albert canoeist has recently been awarded for his contributions over the last 13 years to the sports he loves.
Rick Hill, president of the St. Albert Canoe and Kayak Club and co-founder of the Greater Edmonton Racing Canoe/Kayak Club, was given the Sport Volunteer Recognition Award by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation late last month.
Hill was nominated for the award by several board members of the Alberta Sprint Racing Canoe Association, where he has been an executive member for 13 years and president for 10.
“I was surprised because it’s fairly competitive,” said Hill. “It makes all the work that any volunteer does for a long period of time feel they’re appreciated and worthwhile.”
Hill got his feet wet in canoe and kayaking about 15 years ago through his children. He started off on the administrative end and then started competing, winning a bronze medal in the two-person kayak race at the World Masters Games held in Edmonton in 2005.
Although Hill still enjoys the “scenery and tranquility of paddling” out in the water, he has found a love for the work behind the scenes as he has served as sport coordinator for both the World Masters and the Western Canada Summer Games.
“The thing I’m most proud of is the legacy we left behind from the World Master Games,” said Hill, adding that being able to pull off hosting the games was in itself, a great achievement.
Hill explained that a 2000-metre, Olympic-style temporary canoe and kayak race course made of stainless steel cables was left to the Telford Lake Alberta Training Centre – of which the St. Albert Canoe and Kayak Club is a member – as a legacy gift after the city of Edmonton hosted the games. The course is brought out every year to be used at the satellite club in Leduc.
However, with great achievements also come great challenges.
Hill noted his biggest difficulty over the last decade was moving the club from the old Riel Pond site to Kirk Lake near Anthony Henday Drive and Yellowhead Trail in 2001.
Not only were the logistics a challenge – moving the boats back and forth and establishing the new site – the number of members took a hit and dwindled to four.
The club now boasts 20 members in its racing program and has classes available for all ages and skill levels, whether competitive or recreational.
Hill said he plans on staying with the sport and volunteering for the next several years.
He received the award at the Alberta Sport and Recreation Leadership Summit awards banquet in Banff. Just three awards are given out every two years.
