To honour last week’s International Women’s Day, we look at the life and career of a woman of strength and success, on the court, in the board rooms of USports, and at Olympia Sports Camp. 

 When one looks at the life and career of Christine Stapleton one sees a story of success and growth, but more so one sees family. A huge family. A family that now includes, and is influenced by, Olympia. Christine was born and raised on a farm in Goderich, Ontario. Strong family values were a big part of the Stapleton household of five daughters and sticking to these values has carried Christine through her path to success.

 Christine the player was a two-time National champion at Laurentian University in Sudbury under the tutelage of the late Peter Ennis. She then pursued a career in coaching, heading the program at the University of Regina for nine years, winning Canada West conference Coach of the Year three times, a National Coach of the year once, and the 2001 National title. Her coaching prowess was also felt at the National Team level as she represented Canada at various levels for 11 years, seven of them on a Full-time basis.

 Christine’s focus changed from coaching to family, and she saw that sports administration was the next logical challenge on her journey. Her family included husband Chuck McMahon and soon included daughter Moira and son Patrick. Chuck was also raised in Southern Ontario and was coached at Stamford H.S in Niagara Falls by Olympia original and legend, the late Bob Coull. 

 She applied for and was named the Associate Athletic Director at the University of Waterloo. It was a great first step and it was an hour from her mom and dad. Christine loved Waterloo but was looking for the top job at other schools. She felt she would have more impact as a school’s athletic director, and it would give her more control and flexibility as to where the path may lead. 

 “I was taught on the farm that the person who could do the job the best would be the person who got the job,” Christine explains, “I wasn’t getting interviewed for these other Ontario jobs but never worried because it meant in wasn’t my time.” 

 Christine’s time was coming but it would take a leap of faith and a ‘bat off the shoulder’ moment for Christine and Chuck to take their kids to the next adventure. Christine was named Athletic Director at the University of Calgary, one of the biggest sports schools in the country. After six years so close to family it was time to grow, which meant time to get out of her comfort zone. The Calgary job was it for Christine. It was a high-capacity job and a great adventure for the family. She thought they would be living long term in Calgary for sure. 

 But life has a way of getting in the way of well laid plans. People across the USports spectrum were noticing that success tended to follow Christine. Headhunters came knocking from a school not 30 minutes from the family homestead, and close to her four sisters. A little sheepish about leaving Calgary in only her second year, she listened to the headhunters and jumped at the chance to become the AD at Western. 

 Waterloo was close, Calgary was an adventure, but Western was in her back yard. She would be getting a big-time job and moving ‘home’ at the same time. Another big thought was that Moira and Patrick were still young enough that they could handle another move a little easier than if they had waited a few more years. 

 Best person for the job got the job. 

 A parallel universe was happening for them at Olympia, and it all started years before with Chuck, his older brother Brian, and Coach Bob Coull. Chuck first went to Camp Olympia as a camper in grade 9 in 1986. He then ran the gauntlet of positions from camper to counselor to senior staff, but it was how he got to Olympia that tells a lot. “I was a shy kid in grade 9 and my brother was in grade 13. There was always the Olympia poster on the wall outside the PhysEd office. Coach Coull took me under his wing and encouraged me to go. I’ll never forget that.” 

 For Chuck to get to Olympia was truly him getting out of his comfort zone. Once there, he loved it. He found it cool to hang around with counsellors like his brother Brian and guys like Rob Simmons, Ted Connors, Chris Orr and Matt Akler. As a grade nine, he aspired to be like the big guys.

 “Those guys taught me a lot and those lessons have guided me to where I am now. The best thing about being a counsellor is to be able to interact with campers and help them the way I had been helped. I always felt that Olympia was a special place where you can impact others in such a positive way. I still feel the same way.” 

 So how did Christine get to Olympia? Through Olympia. 

 Rob Simmons and Brian McMahon went off to McMaster University together. Rob did further schooling at York and there he met Mary Kathryn Stapleton. When that romance led to marriage Rob turned to his Olympia bunkmate Brian to be his best man. He also invited to the wedding? Brian’s younger brother and Olympia soulmate Chuck. 

 The Master of Ceremonies at the wedding was Mary Kathryn’s sister and gifted storyteller  Christine. A connection and match of Olympia proportions was made. What Olympia song list was used?

 When Chuck and Christine got married Christine was still with the national team, so her schedule didn’t mesh with getting to Olympia. Chuck knew Christine would be great for Olympia and Olympia would be great for their family. Once Christine was done her tenure with Team Canada, Chuck initiated the conversation with Coach Grace about a national team coach coaching at Olympia and Christine became, as she calls it, a “second degree” Olympian. 

 The first year they came up it was the two of them and six-month old Moira. As an Olympia rookie, Christine found it exhausting. She had to keep Moira warm, clean, and dry in the cabin, go off to session for two hours and then come back to the cabin to be mom again. 

 “Added to the fact that I really didn’t get the whole Olympia thing at first. All the dancing and high energy stuff away from the court,” Christine says,” Chuck is in his glory and I’m wondering what on earth is going on.” 

 Two years later son Patrick came along. They now had two kids under 3, with a newborn and a toddler who loved to get into everything. Christine expands, “Camp life has challenges that are unique. I remember the cabin being so hot and Moira would wake up at 5am. I didn’t want her to wake the others, so the only thing I could think of was to load her into the car and take a drive. The air conditioning cooled her off and she fell back asleep. 

 Despite the challenges the family has loved every minute of it.

 The family move to Calgary has a parallel to life at Olympia. Calgary was being on an adventure with just the four of them, and family time was the focus of life in Alberta. “That’s what Olympia affords families. Quality time that sometimes gets missed at home. The kids learn respect and responsibility too. This is all part of growing up at Olympia.” 

 Christine the relative newcomer has a grasp on what drives her Olympia motor. She loves the coaching, and she loves the people who are like family. She marvels as every year is like a reunion. 

 “From one year to the next their kids may have shot up two inches. Within minutes the time apart disappears. Our memories show how inconsequential basketball or whatever sport is to the total Olympia experience. I remember one time when Patrick was at supper, and he was so exhausted that he fell asleep in his spaghetti. I had to take him out to a picnic table near the tuck shop and he just lay there for an hour. That could be a story that is told at his wedding!” 

 For Christine it all comes back to relationships and family. “I laugh every year because when we get here Chuck must search out Bruce Ransom and give him a big Olympia hug. I know there are a lot of memories in those hugs,” Christine concludes, “There is a real sense of family here at Olympia. To watch our kids, grow in this environment, knowing that their history and life will always have a little Olympia in it is priceless to me as their mother.” 

 “The Legacy of Olympia? It's a chapter in our family history"

Patrick, Chuck, Moira, and Christine with National team alum Tamara Tatham

Check out the camp website at  www.olympiasportscamp.com Lots of energy and superb hiring going on getting ready for the summer of 2022. Kids are going to have their lives changed because they got out of the house and went to Olympia Sports Camp. Help spread the vibe that after two years the best sports camp in Canada ( with the four reasons we hear at every opening) will be back and be better than ever.  

 

 

 

The link to the blog is TuesdayswithDave.blogspot.com

This blog is about the journey of the writing of the book A Hero's Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp. The blog will contain excerpts from the book and my personal thoughts on what the place and the people that make up Olympia's journey is all about. The title comes from the great book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. The blog's title is recognizing Dave Grace as Camp Director, but all content is my own.