Jim Martin

Jim Martin was born May 24 1949 in North Vancouver. He attended Ridgeway Elementary School, Sutherland Junior Secondary School, and North Vancouver Senior Secondary School, where he graduated in 1967. He completed a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of British Columbia in 1973 with majors in Physical Education and Guidance and a minor in English. In 1995-96 he earned a Master of Education degree at City University in Seattle Washington, majoring in curriculum development and implementation.

Starting in 1974, Mr. Martin taught PhysEd, Social Studies, English, and Industrial Education at North Van High, also acting as head of the PhysEd Department. When the school closed in 1979, he moved to Hamilton, where he also became the Grade Nine counsellor. When Hamilton closed in 1982, he moved to Carson Graham Secondary School, where he worked until 1999, when he was appointed Coordinator of Athletics for the North Vancouver School District. He retired in 2007 and, tragically, died in a house fire May 9 2011.

Athletics was the love of Mr. Martin's life. He coached rugby, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, football, softball, soccer, track and field, and cross country. He held positions with the North Vancouver Recreation Commission and, starting in 1975, with the North Shore Senior Secondary School Athletic Association, as a member of the executive 1978-1981, vice president 1981-82, president 1982-83, and past president 1983-84. A dedicated volunteer in the North Vancouver community for 35 years, he won the North Shore Community Sports and Recreation Council's Community Sport Volunteer Award in 2002. In his other community involvement, he was a Beaver leader, a Gordon Stutridge Football Board member, and the executive director of BC School Sports, as well as coaching community soccer, football, and rugby teams.

Mr. Martin will be remembered for his caring concern for every member of every team he ever coached. He inspired and nurtured them both on and off the field.