Planning Committee Bio's
Biographies - Planning Committee Members, Delta Sport Council
Barry Howard - Chair
Barry Howard is a Coach with 25 years of success with basketball, soccer, ice hockey, football, baseball, softball, and field hockey. His passion for helping people reach their maximum potential paid off with a Provincial Championship in football and a trip to the Field Hockey Provincial Tournament, in addition to accomplishments in the areas of Executive and Career Coaching.
After working in an elite basketball club program, Barry co-founded the South Delta Basketball Association in 1997, an original franchise in the Junior Grizzlies movement, which now operates under the Steve Nash umbrella. He served as President, Director of Coaching, and coach for many teams until the summer of 2007. Based on a reputation for integrity, with the focus placed on what was best for the children, the program outgrew the number of available gyms and had wait lists at every age division. He is currently a Director on the Basketball BC Board, participates on numerous committees, and Chairs the Coaching Development Committee.
Barry’s efforts were recognized by Basketball BC in 2005 with the “Coach Who Makes a Difference” designation and in 2008 with the inaugural Steve Nash “Builder/Administrator” Award.
The Delta Sports Hall of Fame recognized Barry in the Sports Champions’ “Builder” category in 2005.
In 2008, the Delta Chamber of Commerce presented the “Volunteer of the Year” award to Barry for his 15 years of community service building a lasting community basketball program, coaching many sports, campaigning for the South Delta Food Bank, and growing the Love South Delta movement.
In 2009, Barry co-founded the Delta Sports Council with a vision to bring all community sports organizations together to share best practices in coaching, administration, and fundraising. He currently acts as the President.
After many years of coaching boys’ basketball at South Delta and Delta Secondary Schools, where he participated in many Fraser Valley Championship Tournaments, Barry retired in 2009. He is now committed to teaching Steve Nash Community Coaches the critical fundamentals that they can pass on to British Columbia’s youth, and mentoring Club Executives, to ensure that the game of basketball will flourish.
Carlene Lewall - Treasurer
After growing up in Vancouver, and then a short stint living in Winnipeg and St. Albert, Carlene with her husband Rick and 2 children moved to Tsawwassen in 1979. Carlene began helping with the Delta Gymnastics club which soon become her passion. Carlene strongly believes in the youth of Delta and believes that by building self esteem and confidence through sport we are developing children to be responsible young adults.
Carlene has her Bachelor of Education, physical education major, has been a volunteer, coach and administrator for Delta Gymnastics Society for 31 years, she was a substitute teacher in Delta for many years, she is chair of the Delta Spirit of B.C. Community Committee, active in sub committees of the Delta Spirit committee, on the board of the Delta Sports Hall of Fame and always willing to help the youth of Delta especially in the sport. She is a committed volunteer and Chair of Operation Red Nose a ‘safe drive’ program for Delta/ Richmond.
In the gymnastics world she has been a board member with Gymnastics BC for 15 years, chaired and participated with and on many committees with Gymnastics BC, was a National level judge for gymnastics, Director of Zone 4 for 22 years, and has received many awards and recognition for the development of the sport of Gymnastics both provincially and in Delta
Gymnastics BC – Volunteer of the Year - 2000
Sport BC's President Award – 2000
Gymnastics BC Member of Distinction -2003
Nominated and finalist for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award- 2005
Burn's Bog Women of the Crane award for Community Spirit – 2006
Lifetime Achievement Award – Gymnastics BC – 2007
In 2008 Delta Gymnastics Society (her passion) was honoured with the Ed Brougham award for the Top Club in Canada for the philosophy that it stands for, the diversity of programs, its best practice models and the contributions to improving gymnastics locally, provincially and nationally. The Delta Chamber of Commerce awarded Carlene with the Volunteer Service Award in 2008 for work and leadership with the Delta Spirit of BC and Delta Gymnastics Society..
“Youth are our future – I believe in helping them to grow and develop into fine young adults” Carlene.
Len Stroh - Director
Len Stroh grew up in Maple Ridge where he was active in many sports at the high school and community level. In 1960, he was selected as the Best Spiker at the Provincial AAA High School Volleyball Tournament. At university, he was a track athlete in long distance events. A teacher by profession, he completed a 32 year career as a Research Technologist in Forest Products in 2005.
Len has lived in North Delta for 36 years, serving the communities of Delta in various capacities for the past 35 years. For example, over 30 years with the North Delta Baseball Association as a League Administrator/Coach, coaching many teams to provincial finals and championships; 10 years as a high school and college basketball official, including provincial competition; 7 years as a Delta Parks and Recreation Commissioner; and 6 years as a Technical Baseball Instructor for Baseball BC. In the past 15 years, he has acted as a Master of Ceremonies at public events such as the North Delta Terry Fox Run and North Delta Secondary School Dry Grads. More recently, Len was an inaugural board member of the Delta Sports Hall of Fame, acting as Chair of the Nominations Committee the previous three years. For the 2010 Olympics, he was appointed as a National Olympic Committee Assistant assigned to the US Olympic Committee.
Presently, he sits on the Board of Trustees for Deltassist Social Services Agency and the Delta Museum and Archives Society. In 1996, Len Stroh was an Inaugural Inductee of the North Delta Baseball Association Hall of Fame and a Finalist for Delta Citizen of the Year.
Mark Friesen - Secretary
Mark Friesen has coached gymnastics for over 12 years. He’s coached both men’s and women’s competitive athletes and was a regional coach for Pacific Sport in Northern BC. In the last 4 years he’s shifted focus to recreational and community gymnastics through outreach programs to schools and programs for sport and community groups. Mark is also a KidsCanMove instructor; a program which endeavours to provide teachers in schools with the tools necessary to developing fundamental movement skills in youth
Mark is currently the Executive Director of the Delta Gymnastics Society and sits on the Gymnastics BC Gymnastics For All committee. In 2009 he was awarded the Recreational Leader of the Year from Gymnastics BC. Mark also took part in the planning group that pursued the concept and development of a Sport Council for Delta.
Joy Fera - Director
A member of Canada’s Rowing Team at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Joy Fera recorded a seventh-place finish in the Coxed Four. During the course of her career, Fera registered back-to-back bronze medal performances in the Eight at the 1977 and 1978 World Championships and helped her team to a fifth-place finish during the 1979 Worlds. Following her retirement in 1980, Joy continued to be involved in the Olympic Movement, participating in the International Olympic Academy in Greece in 1988 and the Olympic Academy of Canada in Halifax in 1987.
The co-founder of the Delta Deas Rowing Club, Fera has chaired the organization’s annual high school regatta for 21 years. She is also an inaugural member of the Delta Spirit of BC Community Committee & the Delta Sport Council, after previously being involved with Athletes 2010 during Vancouver’s bid process for the 2010 Olympics. A member of the Olympians BC Board of Directors from 1998 - 2006, Joy continues to stay heavily involved in rowing. In 2005, she placed fifth in the Mixed Doubles at the World Masters Games in Edmonton and was an umpire during the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina.
Joy competed in Alpine Skiing at the 1972 FISU Winter Games. She has been a ‘Whistler Weasel Worker’ volunteer for seven years, most recently for VANOC as a high speed slipper for Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. She consistently medals at the Canadian Masters Alpine Ski Championships, including the 2008 International FIS Masters races in Banff. Joy has been named to the Canadian Masters Alpine Ski Team for ‘08/’09 and ‘09/’10 seasons. Joy carried the 2010 Olympic Torch on Day 105, Thursday, February 11, 2010! Her 1978 Burnaby Lake Eight crew was inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Graeme Drew - Director
Graeme has been involved in a variety of recreational and competitive sport all his life. Starting with soccer, hockey, and lacrosse growing up in Abbotsford, he later switched to curling and individual sports - primarily golf, distance running, and racquet sports.
While in his 20s, Graeme began combining sporting events with social causes to raise funds and public awareness about issues of concern to him. This involved running events to reduce infant deaths caused due to chronic persistent hunger. One of the highlight events for him was leading the Canadian delegation in the 1988 Moscow Peace Marathon, which hosted 46 countries committed to eradicating hunger in the world. Since raising a young family, Graeme has been involved with youth sport organizations in his community as a Coach, Division Manager, Vice President, and President. His passion is enabling programs that are inviting for participants of all age and skill level, and optimizing the player experience for both recreational and competitive play.
Graeme is a management consultant by profession, with three decades of experience working with associations, business, and government. His current work focuses on strategic planning, grant writing, and funding procurement for associations and charities involved in delivering social, recreational, and cultural programs for youth. In addition to his current involvement with the Delta Sport Council, Graeme is President of Delta Revolution Roller Hockey and has coached the Beach Grove Elementary School Chess Club since 2005. He recently served on the Board of Directors for the Delta Gymnastics Society and the South Delta Minor Hockey Association, and served one term as President of the Beach Grove Elementary Parents Advisory Council.
Paul Skujins - Director
Paul Skujins was born and raised in Richmond. Growing up he took part in many sports such as soccer, hockey, baseball and golf. His one great passion was hockey. At the very early age of 5 he persuaded his mother in to letting him play hockey, even though he'd never skated. His mother brought him to the ice rink with a worrisome heart and told the coaches when asked, "How well can he skate?" she replied; "Can a duck swim, he's a natural!"
Paul's hockey career lasted several years through elementary and high school on a variety of house and rep teams. As a teenage he continued to play hockey, but his passion switch to using a different kind of stick - golf clubs. He played on his high school golf team as well a junior member of the Quilchena Golf and Country Club. Paul currently plays out of the Beach Grove Golf Club. At Quilchena and throughout high school he became a very accomplished golfer with a room full of championship trophies and plaques to show for his skills. He earned a scholarship in high school to continue his golf career, but made the choice to following in his father's footstep and assisted in running one of the oldest and most established roofing companies in the lower mainland, "Cambie Roofing and Drainage Contractors Ltd."
Paul has had many courses on managing businesses and he thrives on problem solving with people and believes in the power of positive thinking.
In the community he has coached baseball, roller hockey, and ice hockey. Paul spent one year as the Vice President of the South Delta Roller Hockey Association.
Paul believes that all kids should have a positive outlook for sports and life; he transfers this encouragement to all his teams.
Paul is happily married to Gaye Lee with 2 kids Dylan and Jackson and a Dog named Bosco. He has lived in Tsawwassen for the last 13 years. He can be found out in the cul-de-sac playing road hockey with the neighborhood kids.