CELEBRATING SHERRY WAKELIN ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

It’s fitting, that on International Women’s Day, BC Hockey is recognizing Sherry Wakelin.

For 34 years, the 69-year-old grandma has continued to shine as both a volunteer as well as a full-time employee within minor hockey throughout the Interior. Over that timeframe, Sherry has been an integral part of both Lumby Minor Hockey Association and the Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association (OMAHA) where she has served in both volunteer and non-volunteer roles. She has also volunteered as a district director on the executive committee with BC Hockey.

“Sherry likes to be involved with everything. She’s just the type of person that will step up when you ask her to.” said Brianna Davey, BC Hockey’s Vice President Member Services-Minor & Female.

“She’ll ask a lot of questions to get it done, but she wants to help in any way possible. You call her and she'll just do it, or she'll find an answer for you, or she'll track down whoever she needs to just to do the job.”

Wakelin first began volunteering as a form of giving back.

“I do it for the kids. It’s just something that I’ve learned,” said Wakelin, who first began volunteering when her son, Curtis, took up the game at age seven. She couldn’t assist with school outings for her own kids because she worked full-time, so she chose hockey because it was on weekends.

Eventually Sherry turned her volunteer job into a full-time career with OMAHA where she serves as their Executive Director and Registrar.

Her hockey odyssey also saw her serve as an ice ambassador, tournament coordinator and treasurer with Lumby MHA for 12 and a half years, then in 2003 she became a district director at the BC Hockey Annual General Meeting. In 2011 she joined OMAHA.

“It’s like anything else, it’s something to be involved in. I feel like I’m pretty good at what I do,” added Wakelin. “It’s been a great experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I always say, if I’ve made a difference in one kid’s life, I’ve accomplished something.”

She found that out years ago when she lived in Lumby when she went down to the local tire shop to get her tires changed over and someone said, “‘Oh, you’re that hockey lady.’ So somewhere I’ve made a difference.

“It’s about loving the game. You can play it as long as you like. That’s what you want to teach your kids. You want to give them some life lessons along the way.”

She stresses this whenever she attends a BC Hockey Championship, which she’s done for the last 23 years. In her speeches at presentations, she recognizes the word “TEAM.”

“Together Everyone Achieves More. I recognize three teams - home, away and officials. That’s the other team and they have the most thankless job that there is,” she said, adding she also likes to recognize family for their commitments.

Wakelin plans on continuing her volunteering efforts, even when she turns 70 in October.

“As long as I can do what I can do, as long as I can help out,” she insisted. “It’s a great experience for anyone to realize how much you can give to all the kids in B.C. and Yukon. It’s just something that I have a passion for, that I like. I think I do a half-decent job. Maybe it’s not perfect, I’m a human and make mistakes, but I go out there and do the best I can.”

“And in every role possible”, said Davey, who has known Wakelin for 10 years.

“She works on discipline reports. She deals out the unfortunate suspensions. She keeps people in line and makes sure that they are following up and getting all the paperwork in,” said Davey. “So, it’s nice to honour her on International Women's Day.

“It’s been a long time coming for her. She’s an overall, a great member of our hockey community.”

Who serves the good of the entire province and Yukon.

“You know, it was an eye-opener when I went from Lumby MHA with 150 to 200 kids to BC Hockey, where you’re overseeing 50,000 kids. You broaden your brain to think you’re here for the whole, not the few and that was the biggest thing, because I’m here for everybody, no matter what,” said Wakelin.

“I was shocked to be recognized. I thought why me? There are so many others, but I’m truly honoured. I never expected this. I give because that’s what I want to do. Somebody said, ‘Why are you on call seven days a week?’ It’s because I made a commitment to the membership for seven days a week. When I go to bed the phone finally gets shut off,” Wakelin said with a laugh.

Mario Annicchiarico is a freelance writer based in Victoria who has previously covered the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers, as well as the Western Hockey League.