Rob Garden named Basketball Person of the Year
Administrator | Nov 09, 2015 | Comments 6
County Clippers players 2015 – Photograph by Phil Norton, www.countyphotographer.com
Rob Garden will receive this year’s Basketball Person of the Year Award, honouring his extensive efforts to promote the sport in Prince Edward County.
Garden, of Wellington, is to receive the honour from the Bay of Quinte Board of Approved Basketball Officials next month.
Rob Garden with his number one fan.
“The BQBABO takes great pride in working with our partners in the basketball community and recognizing outstanding individual achievement in consistently promoting and contributing to the growth and welfare of the game of basketball,” said Jaime McCaig, president.
“Rob Garden exemplifies these qualities in every way with his passion for excellence and his strong work ethic. In the short time that I have had the pleasure of knowing Rob I have been in awe of his dedication to the betterment of basketball in the community and his willingness to work with all parties in an energetic, compassionate and positive manner.”
Garden, a teacher at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, created the Panther Hoops Basketball Skills Program and the County Clippers Basketball League and coaches numerous basketball teams for girls and boys. He is also the girls basketball High School League Convenor.
“This is a big honour to be recognized by the BQBABO for what we are doing to grow the game of basketball in Prince Edward County,” said Garden. “However, this award is shared with so many other people in PEC who are helping the basketball scene to flourish locally. Ernie MacMillan, Andrew Wentworth and Steve O’Brien have been key contributors from the start, in addition to all of our County Clippers House League coaches, OBA rep coaches and our fantastic parent volunteers.”
Garden noted more and more children are being introduced to basketball and falling in love with the sport, and hopes that with facilities like the new court at CML Snider Public School in Wellington, the numbers will continue to increase.
“I’m only a small part of the larger picture and I look forward to sharing this award with them,” he said.
Rob Garden was named Kids Fit Mentor of the Year in 2011. Phil Norton file photo. www.countyphotographer.com
Filed Under: cheers • Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board • News from Everywhere Else • PECI - It's a Panther Thing • Sports & Recreation
Congratulations very well deserved
Thanks for all your efforts, Rob! Niko loves his basketball nights and will miss it until it starts up again. Thanks to all the wonderful coaches/volunteers as well!
Congratulations, Garden!!! I cannot think of a more deserving recipient for this honour. Your positive influence has had an amazing effect on your “ballers” (and their families) and it is an effect that reaches far beyond the boundaries of the basketball court. It is vital for the young people in our community to feel encouraged, valued, and respected for their efforts – no matter what the score. You have changed lives and The County is so lucky to have a “person of the year” in its midst! Congrats again and thank you for all you do!
Congratulations Rob! You are a true team player who puts the love of the game first! Also congratulations to all of the people involved to help make this happen.
Very well-deserved! Congrats Rob. You are an invaluable resource in our community.
We are fortunate to have a wonderful person, like Rob Garden, here for our young people. Rob is a true sportsperson.
Thank you Rob!