TORONTO—Mark Peltier, coordinator of the Healthy Living Youth Program for Noojmowin Teg Health Centre (NTHC), a local badminton coach and creator of the Badminton Warriors of Mnidoo Mnising, has won a 2023 Ontario Coaching Excellence Award.
“I am honoured to have been nominated and selected for this award,” Mr. Peltier stated. “I probably have as much fun as the kids.”
“To celebrate National Coaches Week (September 16-24), the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO), Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS), and Hydro One are excited to present 15 coaches with the province’s most prestigious coaching honour, an Ontario Coaching Excellence Award. From badminton to basketball, the 2023 Coaching Excellence Award helps fund and recognize the power of sport across local communities in Ontario,” a release states.
“Local badminton coach Mark Peltier, from Noojmowin Teg Health Centre and creator of the Badminton Warriors of Mnidoo Mnising, received the top coaching honour this past Saturday (September 16). For the past 14 years he has spearheaded bringing accessible and affordable sport programming to First Nations and off-reserve populations of Manitoulin Island and district.”
“We are thrilled to recognize coach Mark for his unwavering dedication and support of athlete development on and off the playing field,” said CAO’s executive director, Jeremy Cross. “Our communities are strengthened by the relationships created and fostered through sport and coaches like Mark who are leaders in creating those safe, fun, and positive spaces for youth to grow. Congratulations and #ThanksCoach to all the recipients and for the impact you are having in your communities.”
Mr. Peltier, who is from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory (WUT) left the Island for high school at 14. “Physical education was always my favourite program in elementary and secondary school,” he said, noting “I graduated from Cambrian College in the Fitness and Business Management program. The job I have is exactly the type I had hoped for as a career choice. My job is to coordinate/promote physical health in First Nation youth in the Manitoulin District.”
“Yes, we work with other sports and types of recreation, badminton is not the only sport we take part in, but it has been a real focus the past two years, since Noojmowin Teg received a Sports Canada grant to promote and make it more prominent,” said Mr. Peltier. “The grant opportunity came through Sport for Social Development in Indigenous communities. We had received two-year funding approval.” The project calls for services with a target of working/ targeting with youth. The project wrapped up this past weekend.
“We have had 30 youth participate, which is pretty good,” said Mr. Peltier. “This weekend the students and I will be taking a trip to an actual badminton club, KTP Racquet Club in North Bay. It is a full day clinic for youth 18 and under working with elite coaches.”
Mr. Peltier said, “In my role to coordinate/promote healthy First Nations youth in the district I service, communities that provide the proper facilities for these types of activities, such as M’Chigeeng, Aundeck Omni Kaning and Wiikwemkoong and we have yearly badminton sessions in Assiginack.”
“Our name for the program is the Badminton Warriors of Mnidoo Mnising,” said Mr. Peltier. “And as part of the project we held the first elementary school Island-wide badminton championships this past April in AOK. And I am happy to see Noojmowin Teg will be continuing with all schools in the district on this.”
Mr. Peltier was nominated for the award by his wife, Lisa. “She sees me bringing all this equipment home all the time and she gives me a hard time, ‘where are you going to put all that equipment?’ But she sees all the hard work I do as well,” he said.
Eric McLoughlin, senior lead, events and partner development with CAO said, “with these annual excellence awards we receive hundreds of nominations in 35 different sports and in 60 communities. A committee selects and measures each candidate to select the most deserving.”
“Mark is one of 15 coaches in all kinds of sports across the province being recognized for this award, with him being chosen in badminton,” continued Mr. McLoughlin. “Mark is a really good guy who does so much work with youth on Manitoulin Island and in communities beyond the Island.”
Omar Javed, vice president, communications, marketing and investor relations with Hydro One said, “Hydro One believes that coaches are important role models and leaders to their athletes, teams and communities. Through our partnership with the Coaches Association of Ontario, we’re proud to help support local coaches and their athletes as a new season kicks off. Congratulations to Mark and to all recipients. Thank you for the work that you do to make sports exciting, safe and accessible for all.”
Through the Safe Sport 101 partnership between the CAO and Hydro One each recipient will also receive funding for new equipment to keep their athletes and teams’ safe and their respective sports affordable and accessible. This continued partnership gives coaches the tools they need to make sports safe, fun, and inclusive for all.
“Coaches selflessly commit their time and efforts to inspire Ontario’s athletes and help them reach their full potential,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “So many athletes and their families have benefitted from the guidance of excellence, caring coaches and I am pleased to congratulate all of those being recognized.”
