It takes guts to achieve sports glory

Some five years or so into the job, it remains a question that Susan Levesque likely never tires of hearing. Every time she is asked to describe exactly what SportLink is all about, it means she’s taken another step forward in expanding the reach of the local sport council.

“Basically, our job is to promote and advocate for the development of sport in Sudbury,” said Levesque, who is the executive director of the organization. “We have approximately 250 local sports groups that we try and help promote.”

The concept of regional sport councils, both across the province of Ontario and elsewhere in the world, is not a new one. During the 1970s, the Northeastern Ontario Regional Sport Council undertook many of the same challenges, in principle, that SportLink attempts to tackle in the new millennium.

Constantly examining the infrastructure needs of various sports, expanding volunteer capacity, providing a valuable resource to sports groups needing assistance in areas ranging from media relations to grant writing, SportLink seeks to assist the entire spectrum of athletic involvement in Greater Sudbury.

In that sense, it was only logical the group should play an integral role, working hand in hand with city departments and agencies, in kick-starting the bid process for the recent Ontario Summer Games. Helping attract multi-sport competition truthfully does not fall within the mandate of any of the individual sport organizations.

“We try and encourage all of our sports groups to host major sporting events in the future,” Levesque said. Small surprise then that SportLink is working collaboratively with both Sudbury Tourism and Leisure Services in establishing an effective sport tourism program for Greater Sudbury.

With the Summer Games now completed and events like the OFSAA wrestling and track and field championships still several months away (not to mention the Jeux de la Francophonie), Levesque and company are keeping busy with their biggest fundraiser of the year.

The fifth annual Guts and Glory Luncheon is set for Friday, Oct. 22, at the Radisson Hotel, with the slate of guest speakers now finalized. In the past, the group has seen a variety of intriguing personalities share their stories and experience, with keynote guests that included the likes of ultra-marathon runner Ray Zahab and Olympic Gold medallist Adam Kreek.

Last year, Alex Baumann, currently heading the Own the Podium summer sport program, provided a unique insight into the Canadian Olympic dream. This year, the luncheon will feature Ken Derrett, VP of marketing for the San Diego Chargers and a graduate of the sports administration program at Laurentian University.

Yet Levesque suggests the appeal of this fundraiser is much more widespread. “It’s great to have a really good keynote speaker, but it’s also great to involve the local athletes,” she said.

“To me, that’s the grassroots level of sport and I find that the most interesting part of Guts and Glory.” In fact, Canadian Junior triple jump champion Caroline Ehrhardt and national trampolinist Jordan Mulloy captivated the crowd in 2009, sharing the journey they travelled with heartfelt sincerity.

This time around, local ultra-marathon runner Mike Coughlin and OFSAA gold medal Nordic skier Alannah MacLean will share the podium with Derrett, a lineup that Levesque is truly excited to hear.

It’s just a small part of what makes her job at SportLink a real pleasure. “I like dealing with all of the different sports groups in town – each day brings something new and a little different,” said Levesque.

She recently enjoyed the opportunity to share ideas with like-minded people at a symposium in St. Catharines that brought together a good portion of the 18 other sport councils that exist across Ontario.

“We shared a number of our best practises, tried to find ways to work together for the common good of all sport councils,” she said. Like many who immerse themselves in the world of local sports, Levesque fully understands that the road to achieving success, helping establish Sudbury as a destination of choice for a variety of different provincial and national sports organizations, is not an easy one to travel.

Still, she feels progress is being made. “I think things are starting to advance. We are getting bigger events, bigger championships coming to town. These are starting to put (Sudbury) on the sports map.”

And from an even larger perspective, Levesque requires little convincing of the pure benefit of sport for young and old alike. “Sport gives people a sense of belonging, some camaraderie, health and fitness – the list is endless.”

Randy Pascal is the founder of SudburySports.com and a contributing sports editor for Northern Life.