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Former ice ambassador dedicated to kids

First recipient of the Duncan Jamieson Lifetime Achievement Award chosen
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Neil Jamieson, left, next to Paul Brisson, the first winner of the Dunc Jamieson Lifetime Achievement Award created by the Penticton Minor Hockey Association to recognize volunteers for their long time dedication to the association. Submitted photo

Paul Brisson had two jobs — being an accountant and ice ambassador for Penticton Minor Hockey Association.

Brisson put in between 30 and 35 volunteer hours a week as the ice ambassador. His dedication to PMHA made him the perfect choice by association vice president Jamie Materi as the first recipient of the Dunc Jamieson Lifetime Achievement Award.

“It’s an honour, of course, to be recognized. He put a lot of heart and soul into the organization,” said Brisson’s wife Karen.

Materi came up with the award as there are several longtime volunteers like Dunc, who has a minor hockey division named after him in the Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association, as well as a B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame award in his honour.

“I nominated Paul because when I worked at the rink I witnessed the commitment Paul had to being ice ambassador,” said Materi. “I also see Paul almost everyday at the rink just stopping in to watch no one in particular just loving the game and the kids. Paul is a great recipient for this award.”

Along with coaching his son and daughter and managing teams, Brisson ran the summer hockey league.

“He liked to see the kids have fun and enjoy their time on the ice and improve their skills,” she said.

As an accountant, working with spread sheets, dealing with ice time was right up his alley.

“I loved it,” said Brisson, who joked during his speech that he missed the role.

“He did it for the love of the game,” said Karen.

Brisson moved to Penticton from Coquitlam, where he saw kids not receive enough ice time, he wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case in Penticton. He would book ice not only in Penticton, but in Summerland and Oliver to make sure minor hockey kids got equal ice time.

Neil Jamieson, Dunc’s son, was on hand during the PMHA annual general meeting on Wednesday to present the award. Neil talked about how his dad dedicated countless hours to ensure kids had the best minor hockey experience.

About five years after moving to Penticton in 1960, Dunc signed up his kids to play. While getting involved with the local association, he did everything from coach, to manager and executive.

“My dad wanted to make sure kids had something to do, something to live for, maybe give guidance to a kid,” said Dunc’s son Neil, on hand to present the first Dunc Jamieson Lifetime Achievement Award. “The volunteer aspect of it is what it is all about.”

“As I read the bio that Jamie sent me … I kind of chuckled,” said Neil. “It kind of reminded me of my dad.”