Distinguished Service Awards 2012-2013

The Hugh A. Noble Distinguished Service Award and the Dorothy G. Walker Distinguished Sevice Award  represent the most prestigious awards given by the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation. The awards represent an attempt to give recognition to those who contribute to interscholastic athletics over several years, and to acknowledge outstanding contributions!

The NSSAF is pleased to announce that the 2012-2013 Hugh A Noble Distinguished Service Award will be presented to David Hubley of Waverley.

Hugh A. Noble is recognized as the father of modern physical education in Atlantic Canada and was responsible for establishing the first athletic committee of the Nova Scotia Headmasters Association and guided its operation for 25 years.  This organization later became the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation.

Mr. David Hubley was a former physical education teacher with the Halifax Regional School Board. Mr.Hubley began his career in 1979 and retired from Charles P Allen High School in June of 2012. Mr. Hubley is best known for his dedication to ensuring that all students, regardless of ability, strengths and/or needs, be involved in physical activity in some manner.

While working at Sir John A Macdonald High School, Mr. Hubley and a teacher named Andrew Foran, collaborated in designing a curriculum that would meet the varying learning needs of their students. This program, ABEL, stands for Adventure Based Experiential Learning.  The premise of this program captures the essence of Mr. Hubley’s philosophy that to develop as a leader, you do not have to do so in a classroom that is in a building; a classroom is anywhere a group of individuals want to learn in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. The ABEL program and its merits became the catalyst for many of Mr.Hubley’s later programs and practices.

Mr.Hubley was one of the first physical education teachers to look to ways to provide students with special needs an opportunity to participate in organized sports at an interschool level. His methods of teaching were inclusive before it became a common practice. From having various track and field events be supported for our students with specials needs, to curling, swimming and even intramurals.

Dr. Foran describes his former colleague as ‘always seeking new learning opportunities, right to the bitter end, developing activities, often outdoor focussed, as this was his interest, and willing to learn as he goes along modelling this very behaviour for his students.’ He believed in the strength of the young adults he worked with and provided them with the opportunities to grow as leaders. He is an advocate for those who do not have advocates for themselves and sought to ensure that their chance to ‘rise to the occasion’ was provided for.

From organizing the Metro Track and Field meets, to getting enough snowshoes for his outdoor phys.ed class, Mr. Hubley always looked to his students as young people who needed opportunities to grow, outside of the conventional classroom that most are used to. Mr. Hubley was progressive in his practices, the students and staff of his former schools, are the better because of his work.

The Hugh A Noble Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Mr. Hubley in the community at a later date.

The NSSAF is pleased to announce that the 2012-2013 Dorothy G. Walker Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Mrs. Margo Hilchey of Pictou.

Dorothy G. Walker was one of the first supervisors of physical education in our province and was instrumental in the growth of female participation in athletics, coaching and refereeing.  In 2002, the NSSAF established this award to be presented annually to recognize the outstanding contribution women have made to school sport.

Mrs. Hilchey has been teaching at Pictou Academy since 1981 and is set to retire this year after thirty-two years of service. Mrs. Hilchey has taught Physical Education at the high school level for the past twenty years. She has coached a number of high school teams including the Senior Girls’ soccer team when they won the provincial championship in 2003.  She also coached the cross country team for many years taking many of our athletes to provincials.

In addition, Mrs. Hilchey coached badminton teams, track & field teams and basketball teams. Mrs. Hilchey was always willing to give herself to any sport that needed her help. Her knowledge and expertise in many sports allowed Pictou Academy to participate at the highest levels provincially.

Mrs. Hilchey has offered an excellent Physical Education program over the past twenty years, encouraging our young adults to lead an active life. For the past ten years part of her Physical Education class has run in the Johnny Miles Marathon.Students would choose which race they would run in. She had students prepare for their races through her Physical Education classes. She has had students run the 5km, 10km, the half marathon and the full marathon. Many of her former students continue to run today. Mrs. Hilchey has been able to instill in her students the importance of being physically active over their life time not just during school.

Pictou Academy has been able to send competitive teams in most sports because of the work Mrs. Hilchey has done in her Physical Education program. She continues to lead by example being a provincially ranked senior women’s golfer, as well as a driving force behind getting new tennis courts for the town of Pictou. She has dedicated her life to teaching young adults the importance of staying active.

Mrs. Hilchey has been a shining example of holding up the ideals of the Dorothy G. Walker Award. The Dorothy G Walker Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Mrs. Hilchey in the community at a later date.

Congratulations to our two award winners!