St. Francis Xavier School principal Ryan Irving stands alongside former Paralympian and new sports academy teacher Derek Whitson Thursday afternoon.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Derek Whitson’s dreams have come true.
The Canadian Paralympian living in Medicine Hat is taking on the role of sports academy teacher at St. Francis Xavier elementary school. Whitson said it’s what he’s wanted to do since he graduated.
“With my sports background and my love for teaching, it’s a good mix,” Whitson told the News. “I’m excited to meet all the kids and get started.”
The Para ice-hockey and 7-aside-football (soccer) Paralympian graduated from the Mount Royal University education program through Medicine Hat College April 21. Whitson represented the MHC Rattlers in golf for three seasons. The 32-year-old said he quickly found the opportunity to lead the school’s sports academy which began in 2018.
St. Francis Xavier principal Ryan Irving said he loves that Whitson can work every part of sport into his programming at the school.
“He brings so much more experience that it’s going to be a great time,” Irving said. “He’s a great personality, the kids already love them. He’s come around the school a couple times already and they seem to really enjoy him.”
Whitson said he’s already been thinking of how he is going to run the program when it starts up for the 2022-23 school year and building a relationship with the kids.
“It’s building those relationships and they’re gonna teach me just as much as I’m going to teach them,” Whitson said. “I want to try to be some kind of a positive impact for them that they can just have fun in what they’re doing. It’s not about becoming a professional athlete or having the best grades, it’s about being a good person at the end of the day, being kind to one another, wanting to learn have some fun and and try new things.”
All St. Francis Xavier students can register for the optional sports academy which costs $50 a month and runs two afternoons every week using facilities at the school, McCoy High School and in the community.
When he moved to Medicine Hat in 2013 Whitson, alongside his wife Tara Chisholm, started the inclusive non-profit organization Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport & Recreation. The organization brings various Paralympic sports to Medicine Hat year round, and Whitson is always helping participants at the different sports enjoy themselves and the game.
Irving said bringing someone like Whitson to lead the academy will help give kids the opportunity to learn different sports.
“It’s great having somebody like Derek, who’s going to show that opportunity that we can really go for more and just grow the idea of sport and bring that back into the classroom with physical literacy skills as well,” Irving said.
The academy offers basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer, with opportunities to try other sports. Whitson says he just can’t wait to get started.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about this since I knew, and I’m sure my wife gets sick of me talking about it at home,” Whitson joked. “It’s an incredible group here and I have to meet all the kids, even though I already came in and subbed for each class a little bit. But I just can’t wait to get to know them more and get started.”
