Dave Wilkinson is the 2016 Peter Palangio Award winner for his long time contribution to sport in the community. A product of the sport-loving town of Coniston, Wilkinson arrived in North Bay in 1987 where he joined the Physical Education staff at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall.
At St. Joseph-Scollard Hall, Dave immediately took up duties as a multi-sport coach. His first few years saw him involved in hockey and football, but his number one commitment became the Bear’s proud track and field program. How committed was he? How about 29 continuous years leading the team, and a lot of NDA championship team trophies!
When Dave stepped aside from football in 1991, his fall season focus became the cross country running team. He stayed with that sport for 17 years. In 2005 he started a comprehensive intramural program at St. Joe’s and he convened the action until his retirement in 2016.
From coaching individuals and teams, Dave also did his share as a competition director. He cannot count the number of NDA cross-country and track and field championships he organized; and the same applies to hosting the events at the NOSSA level. Dave also played an integral part in the planning and success of the 2007 and 2008 OFSAA Nordic Ski championships, and the 2014 OFSAA curling finals, staged right here in North Bay.
Taking it even further, he gave long time service to the OFSAA sports advisory committee for both track and cross country, and was even the committee chair for 15 years. No half measure for Mr. Wilkinson.
In 2014 OFSAA presented him with the prestigious OFSAA “Colin Hood Leadership in Sport Award”. Dave was nominated by his peers, and recognized for the promotion of health and sportsmanship, and his excellence as a coach and mentor.
Although always out front and centre at the high school varsity level, Wilkinson also provided years of service as a developmental level coach in the North Bay Timbit soccer program. Community hockey also got his time and effort. Indeed, for more than a decade Dave did just about everything - from managing, coaching, and even acting as a trainer - for teams from the house league level to AA, and from the Timbit to Peewee age levels.
Ask just about any student he has taught, any athlete he has motivated, and even rival coaches from other schools and teams, and you will hear about Dave’s fair and unbiased approach and his fun loving attitude. For all he has done for sport in North Bay for the past 30 years, Dave Wilkinson is a most worthy recipient of the Peter Palangio Award for 2016.
Wilkinson will receive his award at the NBSHF Annual Induction and Awards Dinner on Saturday, May 6th at the Best Western (Lakeshore).
Tickets are available from any Executive Committee member, by calling Chair Bill Jacko at 705-476-1429, or emailing Karen Cobb at cobbjk@onlink.
