In 2015, the award was presented at the Annual General Meeting on June 25th, to Morgan Ricketts, in recognition of his leadership by strengthening health knowledge and skills, sustaining environment supportive of health and having a significant impact in the community of Strathcona Heights.

Since 2011, Rockers United Soccer Club, and specifically coach Morgan Ricketts, have been volunteering their time in the under-served community of Strathcona Heights, delivering soccer lessons to boys and girls age 5-13. Every Tuesday night, the gym at the Youville Centre is packed with children and youth eagerly anticipating the new skills they will get to learn and even more so the game to follow. After school, the children who participate in the Homework Club are invited to learn soccer at the gym, located in the Youville Centre in Sandy Hill.

Through soccer, kids are keeping active, learning about team work and building self-confidence. These skills are encouraged and expanded through a series of drills, individually as well as in a group setting. Every individual milestone achieved strengthens the team and, in return, it rewards each child with an improvement of self-esteem and confidence. Soccer out in the field equips children with skills that will be an asset in the real world as an adult.

With coach Ricketts the lessons are not only about how to apply what you’ve learned on the soccer field, but also in life. He takes time to discuss important subjects, such as the value of team work in soccer and how that transfers to the daily interactions you may have with your friends, family, co-workers and the various people that you will encounter as you move through life. He always provides opportunities during games where the children can break down their plays and analyze their mistakes before moving forward, giving the chance to learn critically. He often talks with the children one-on-one, especially those who he sees may have difficulty socializing with others and not only encourages their participation, but also follows up at the end to making sure they’re acknowledged for scoring a goal or making a good pass.

Coach Ricketts is deserving of this award because he continually demonstrates a genuine passion for passing along not just his love of soccer, but also his enthusiasm towards living healthy in mind, body and soul.