Recognizing sporting excellence at 3 CDSB Edmonton
July 5, 2023 - Tim Bryant, Western Sentinel
Sports and athletics are a key component of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) experience.
That’s why 3rd Canadian Division Support Base (3 CDSB) Edmonton hosted its 28th annual Sports Awards Breakfast on June 15.
“Within the Canadian Armed Forces, sports play a crucial role in physical training, fostering physical fitness and mental agility among our members,” said Colonel Robert McBride, Commander 3 CDSB Edmonton, in his opening remarks. “By prioritizing their well‑being, we enhance their operational effectiveness, ensuring readiness at all levels.”
The awards breakfast was a chance to recognize both the base intersection sports champions and the players and teams that competed at the regional and national levels.
However, before the awards were presented, keynote guest speaker Master Warrant Officer Chuck Harvey spoke about his life and career combining his love of volleyball and duty to the CAF.
MWO Harvey’s overarching theme was never to give up on your sport, and stay involved in it any way you can.
He always loved volleyball, and upon joining the CAF he got involved with the local volleyball team. He later learned about the Conseil international du sport militaire (CISM), the international organization that brings together armed forces members from across the globe to compete in sports instead of in war.
MWO Harvey tried out for the Canadian national team, but circumstances including his family and military duties meant he was unable to make the team. Unbowed, he kept involved in volleyball, to the point where he would either join the team wherever he was posted, or create an entirely new volleyball program at his new postings.
Ultimately, he became a victim to the old adage that ‘Father Time is undefeated.’
“I was getting worn out and I said it was time to hang up the shoes and pick up a clipboard,” he said.
MWO Harvey got his coaching certifications and started stalking the sidelines.
Coaching occupies a lot of time. For every hour spent at practice and at games, there is at least another hour spent planning for those practices and games. Then there is the stress and frustration when not all players seem to be equally committed.
Eventually, MWO Harvey stepped away from coaching. But it wasn’t the end yet.
In 2011, he was asked by a player to get back into coaching. The player had teammates who were committed and they needed someone to coach them. MWO Harvey said ‘yes’ and so began the third stage of his volleyball career.
He guided the team to the national tournament, and while they didn’t win, he drew the attention of Canada’s CISM volleyball team, which asked him to join the team as a coach. He started as a guest coach at a CISM camp, then moved up to become an assistant coach.
Finally he climbed into a management role and managed the team for six years.
Caption
Graeme Hill, Personnel Support Program Manager at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base (3 CDSB) Edmonton, presents the Team of the Year (Esprit de corps) award to the 3 CDSB Edmonton women’s slo-pitch team during the 28th annual 3rd CDSB Edmonton Sports Awards held at the Edmonton Garrison Memorial Golf & Curling Club on June 15.
The women’s slo-pitch team won the regional and national championships last season.
Photo by Robert Schwartz, 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Imaging
Caption
Master Warrant Officer Chuck Harvey was the guest speaker at the 28th annual 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Sports Awards held at the Edmonton Garrison Memorial Golf & Curling Club on June 15.
Photo by Robert Schwartz, 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Imaging
It was during his time in coaching and management with the CISM team he finally achieved his dream of representing Canada on an international stage.
MWO Harvey described the feeling of representing Canada and walking into a 65,000‑seat stadium as “goose pimple stuff.”
“It’s next to the Olympic Games,” he said, adding it’s hard to properly describe the feeling of “representing our country in a sport I love so much.”
MWO Harvey could have stepped away completely when his body told him it was time to stop playing, but he couldn’t do that. He had to stay involved. And he stressed that everyone can and should do the same.
Find ways to contribute to your sports’ grassroots programs, he said. Get yourself involved and get other people involved.
“Never give up giving to your sport.”
3 CDSB Edmonton Sports Award Winners 2023
- Female Athlete of the Year
- Capt Vivian Nguyen, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters
- Male Athlete of the Year
- MCpl Colin Vanthournout, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
- Coach of the Year
- Cpl Ilya Karassev, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment
- Trainer of the Year
- Kirsten Atkinson, Personnel Support Program
- Official of the Year
- WO Jeffery Winfield, CAF Transition Centre
- Builder of the Year
- Capt John Ku, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
- Athletic Distinction
- Pte Steeven Richard-Dumais, 1 Service Battalion
- Team of the Year (Performance)
- 3 CDSB Edmonton ball hockey
- Team of the Year (Esprit de corps)
- 3 CDSB Edmonton women’s slo‑pitch
3 CDSB Edmonton Sports Award Intersection Champions 2023
- Curling (Recreation) – Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess #1
- Golf (Competitive) – Harold Gale, Real Property Operations
- Golf (Recreation) – 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters & Signals Squadron #3
- Grappling (65 kg) – Master Corporal Marius Buaga, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
- Grappling (73 kg) – Private Zefram Burwell, 1 Service Battalion
- Grappling (81 kg) – Private Shane Yahodenko, 1 Service Battalion
- Grappling (110 kg) – Private Brock Yates, 1 Service Battalion
- Hockey – 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- Volleyball – 1 Field Ambulance