Two Sunshine Coasters have won merit awards from the BC Lacrosse Association (BCLA). Sunshine Coast Lacrosse Association (SCLA) president Pam Service and head coach Marcus Brejak were given the awards at the BCLA annual general meeting on Oct. 16 to 18.
Service was awarded with the Ruth Seward Merit Award for outstanding involvement by an individual.
“It’s nice to be recognized and I think we’re on the right track. The association is growing, the kids are doing well. They’re getting good results,” she said.
Service said she was nominated for the award because of the networking she’s done with other lacrosse associations in B.C. Michael O’Connor, the past-president of the Vancouver Lacrosse Association, nominated her.
“He was a great mentor for me, and he ended up nominating me for the award,” Service said.
Service became president of the SCLA two years ago.
“There have been very few people running the lacrosse association – and it’s only been around for 12 years,” Service said. “So we were doing a lot of stuff like getting our constitution and bylaws updated and creating policy. We beefed up the code of conduct and started really telling the kids that we don’t want fighting.”
O’Connor nominated Service last year as well, but someone else won.
Brejak was awarded with the BCLA Presidents Award, which supports and promotes the spirit of volunteerism.
“It’s a nice feeling, but it’s not something I look for in coaching,” Brejak said. “I enjoy coaching the kids on a day-to-day basis and that is rewarding enough for me. We have a good association here and great group of kids. And that’s what makes it worthwhile for me.”
