Lasalle Secondary School Coach honoured provincially for excellence

A longtime teacher and coach at Lasalle Secondary School has been honoured provincially for his contribution to athletics. Denis Gauthier received the Male School Sport Coach Award at the 2017 Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards. The award was presented in Toronto on September 23, 2017.

The Coaches Association of Ontario has been celebrating the dedication and commitment of individuals who, like Denis Gauthier, inspire, innovate and share knowledge of sport with others for 11 years. The Awards recognize the importance of leadership and performance as well as the value of human insight, which are all integral to great coaching.

In presenting the award, the Coaches Association of Ontario indicated that “Denis’s style is one of active learning, team building, respect, discipline and always encourages his players to be the best they can be.”

Denis Gauthier has been coaching a variety of sports for more than 30 years, including boys’ and girls’ basketball, football, softball and badminton. Part of what makes Denis Gauthier an exemplary leader is his ability to connect sport to real life situations. Through these connections, athletes build the attitudes and expectations that will help them later in life.

“My message to students is simple,” says Gauthier. “Learn to be a hard worker. Whatever your passion is, apply yourself. Take that learning drive, and bring it in to your personal life, so that you understand how to conquer the ups and downs.”

Gauthier’s leadership extends well beyond the court. As the Program Leader of Sport at Lasalle Secondary School, he has worked tirelessly to mentor new and experienced coaches, and has organized numerous regional and provincial championships. He is also the driving force behind the Lasalle Secondary School Wall of Fame, which honours athletes.

“The Wall of Fame would not have been possible without Denis’ support and determination,” says Principal Maureen McNamara. “The wall is so important for the school, and the local community. The featured athletes become role models for students. They keep them motivated each and every day to do their best, inside and outside of the classroom.”

As a teacher, Denis Gauthier continues to make an important contribution to two experiential learning programs at Lasalle Secondary School – SHSM Sports and SHAL.

Specialist High Skills Major Sports (SHSM Sports) enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace.

The Sport and Healthy Active Living Program (SHAL) maximizes human potential in sport, fitness and academics. The program appeals to students with a keen interest in pursuing their participation in, and understanding of sports, competition, health and business.

To Denis Gauthier, seeing students develop is the greatest reward. “I love watching young people progress in athletics and academics,” he says. “To me, it is important that when they leave secondary school, they have worked hard, learned a lot, and they are smiling and want to come back. It’s very rewarding.”

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Media Contact:

Maureen McNamara, Principal, Lasalle Secondary School,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-566-2280.