The Power, and Importance, of Community 

Two weeks ago a golf tournament was held for the Kelly Dunham Memorial Foundation and the Hamilton basketball community that Kelly impacted with her involvement with Mohawk College, McMaster, and Transway basketball made the event a huge event. With Kelly being an Olympia Sports Camp legend, many camp alumni, most of whom had  deep friendships with Kelly,  were in attendance. I was unable to be there so I  donated as a Tee Box sponsor and donated three copies of A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp for the prize table.

One of the Olympia alumni that was at a the tournament was Megan Reid. Megan is a hero in her own right as she has given of her skills and knowledge in coaching at the high school, college and professional levels, and is now the head coach of the University of Guelph Gryphons. Megan also impacted hundreds of campers and coaches in her years of coaching at Olympia and acted as a clinician for the fall basketball tournaments. Along her journey she coached with and became deep friends with Kelly, hence her need to show support and be at the tournament. Megan said her table was full of Olympians. 

Megan sent me a note about the book being at the prize table. We then connected at a Guelph game so that Megan could get her copy. Always a passionate Olympian and basketball lifer, it was great to get the book to Megan, a part of the basketball community who truly gives of herself for the next generation, as heroes do. When I think of it, Megan's journey makes her a part of many communities, only one of which is that of her friend Kelly Dunham. Maybe without that golf tournament in Kelly's honour I don't get the opportunity to share this moment with Megan and she doesn't get a book that contains a lot of great memories for Megan and so many others.


And now the importance of community. 

We are all part of those people who we interact with throughout our journeys and I'm thankful that Megan is part of my Olympia family. She is a true ambassador to coaching, leading and teaching. She is also engrained into the fabric of a sports camp that has impacted hundreds. Olympia doesn't reach 50 years without people like Megan Reid.

When Megan and I spoke about the journey of the book we both talked about the Olympia community and the legacy that this book now holds in the history of life on OxBow. Are you an Olympian who cherishes the memories and growth that the camp provided you? This book will take you down memory lane. Your story is in the book. Feel an even greater part of the Olympia community. Get your copy today.

Copies of A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp are available at The Different Drummer BookStore on Locust St in Burlington. The also will be available at Indigo.ca and at some Indgio stores in the area. Or if you live in the Hamilton/ Halton area etransfer $30 with your address and I'll deliver it to your door. It's worth the drive! 

I have a couple of opportunities to get your copy in person coming up. I'm at St JOhn's Parish Christmas Market on Brant St in Burlington on Nov 25 and at the Jacob Ranton Memorial Basketball Tournament on Friday Dec 15 at Waterloo Collegiate. More details to follow.

If you would like us to come to your town for a book event, email me at coachdools71@gmail.com

Online copies are available at aherosjourney.ca

Audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, or iTunes 


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