The late Dr. Barbara Schrodt (1929-2020) had the distinction of being one of a select group of UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduates to be inducted as an individual into both the UBC and British Columbia Sports Halls of Fame.
A 1951 graduate, ‘Bim’ was considered a true ‘Builder’ as a teacher, coach, historian and director of women’s athletics at UBC. ‘Bim’ played field hockey and swam for UBC during the late 1940’s, then while teaching in the School of Kinesiology (then Physical Education) she coached the UBC women’s field hockey team for eighteen years. Dr. Schrodt guided the Blue & Gold to six Canada West championships in her eight years in which UBC competed in the Western Canadian League. Her teams’ stellar record was passed on to her successor, Gail Wilson, as was a prized tradition, one that even today has a special place in UBC history.
In 1957/58 ‘Bim’ began to lay the foundation for the women’s athletic program at UBC. For the next six years, she served as Women’s Athletic Director, helping to develop opportunities for women.
Bim’s passion for field hockey saw her establish the BC Women’s Field Hockey Federation in 1966, when she drafted its constitution. She developed a handbook of regulations and procedures after which the national level was modelled. She was president of the Vancouver Women’s Field Hockey Association and founding director of the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Association. Her early efforts led to the establishment of a national umpiring certification still used today. All of these roles and actions had a lasting impact on the sport in this province and country.
She coached the gold medal BC Team at the 1973 Canada Games and umpired at four consecutive world championships. Dr. Schrodt launched the first publication on women’s field hockey, “Field Hockey for Women,” and edited the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Rules and Umpiring Guide. Her teams’ celebrated record was passed on to her successor, Gail Wilson, and continues to hold a special place in UBC history. She completed her PhD in Physical Education in 1979 at the University of Alberta.
Over the 40 plus years as a UBC player, coach, administrator and teacher it has been the game of field hockey, women’s athletics and students who were the beneficiaries of the work and dedication of Dr. Schrodt.
Dave MacFarlane is another example of the diversity in career paths taken by UBC graduates in Physical Education (Kinesiology).
A 1989 graduate, Dave played Thunderbird hockey in 1984-85 under the coaching of Fred Masuch. As it happens, Dave has good bloodlines as his father Dave Sr., successful in both athletics and business, was a UBC football star from 1949 through 1951, ultimately being inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.
After attaining his BPE at UBC, MacFarlane the younger joined HUB International which today is the largest insurance broker in Canada and the tenth-largest in North America. Since starting with HUB over twenty years ago, Dave has evolved to the point where he is now Senior VP and Chief Sales Officer, developing numerous programs while at the same time being responsible for business development and revenue results, which he has increased significantly.
Dave is also involved with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and serves as Chair of its World Partnership Walk and Partnership Golf. He is also a past trustee of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and currently coaches minor hockey and basketball.
Sports and physical activity have always been a big part of Dave’s life, but because he is so engaging and dedicated he has excelled in the insurance field. With his educational background and his nature, he is always willing to motivate and mentor others.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
Master of Physical Education, 1961
The late and great May Brown, who first taught physical education at UBC then later attained her Masters in Physical Education, is one of this School’s most revered individuals. She was a life-long supporter of physical education, fitness and recreation which included founding and directing boy’s camps, extensive work with the YWCA and YMCA, serving as president of the Canadian Camping Association.
For decades May was an advocate for UBC sports particularly women’s field hockey and swimming, both of which she coached at UBC during the late 1940s and early 1950s. She reached such esteem that UBC created the May Brown Trophy which is awarded annually to the Outstanding Graduating Female Athlete of the Year.
After serving as a faculty member in UBC Physical Education during its initial years, May achieved her Masters in Phys. Ed. at UBC in 1961. While she taught and coached at UBC it could be said she began UBC’s field hockey dynasty which has so successfully continued through to the present. Team loyalty and accountability were among the qualities instilled by coach Brown.
May’s varied contributions to our community included a high profile career in politics. She was elected Vancouver Park Board Commissioner from 1973 through 1976 and she served on Vancouver City Council for ten years.
The ever-popular and deeply respected May Brown has been acknowledged by so many, including a UBC Alumni Achievement Award, Sport BC Award, UBC and BC Sports Halls of Fame, YWCA Woman of Distinction, the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada among others. According to one of her former players, “May Brown was wonderful! The sun rose and set on her.”
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
Stephanie Jameson, a 2006 UBC Kinesiology graduate, experienced an exceptional Thunderbird athletic career as a field hockey player under coach Hash Kanjee. Not only was she a luminary in this sport but is also unique in that her mother, Sue Rich, was also a field hockey standout preceding Stephanie as a Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate in 1973.
This particular mother/daughter combination both in the classroom and on the field represents one of the more impressive UBC two-generation resumes. Sue in the 1970s was stellar. In each of the three years she played for the Blue & Gold – under coach “Bim” Schrodt – UBC won the Canada West championship. At this time National CIS championships for this sport were not contested depriving Sue of this possible honour.
Meanwhile Stephanie did play on three CIS champion field hockey teams, in 2001, 2003 and 2004, was also four times selected to the CIS Championship tournament All-Star team and in 2002 was named CIS tournament MVP. Three times she was a first-team All-Canadian, four times a Canada West All-Star and in 2001 won the Gail Wilson Award for her dedication, loyalty and inspiration. 2004 and 2005 were big years for Stephanie. In 2004 she was the MVP for the entire CIS and was honoured as the Sport BC Athlete of the Year. In 2005 she was presented field hockey’s Joan Livesey Award in addition to the Marilyn Pomfret Award as UBC’s female athlete of the year. To top it off, Stephanie excelled in the classroom, as she was named Academic All-Canadian in all five of her years at UBC.
As it happens, a third member of the Jameson family, Stephanie’s younger sister Kathryn, is also a UBC hockey player having just completed her fourth year under coach Kanjee. She also has an impressive resume having played on three CIS champions and four Canada West winners. It is interesting to note that mother and two daughters collectively have attained ten Canada West championships and six CIS national titles.
Photo Courtesy of UBC Thunderbirds
Fred Hume, UBC Historian
One of the best known names in Canadian basketball is 1969 UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate Ken Shields. Ken, along with his wife Kathy, both played Varsity Thunderbird basketball during the late 1960s with Ken quickly moving on to the coaching ranks co-coaching the UBC women’s Varsity basketball team in1969/70. In fact, this team which had Kathy on its roster, was both Canadian university and Canadian Senior ‘A’ Champions this season and is an inductee in the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.
Shields’ highlights are many. From 1978 through 1989 he was Varsity head coach at the University of Victoria, winning an amazing seven consecutive CIS men’s basketball titles and four CIS Coach of the Year awards. Despite being UBC graduates, both Ken and Kathy Shields were not just nationally acclaimed but have since become “icons” on the campus of the University of Victoria.
Ken also coached Canada’s men’s national team for five years and in 1986 was integral in the establishment of the Canadian National Coaching Institute. He was the founding president of the Commonwealth Centre for Sport Development and was instrumental in the creation of high performance sport training centres. He has also served as a guest basketball coach for five other nations during his career including Britain’s national team for the 2012 Olympics.
Shields has been recognized not only for his outstanding coaching record but for his leadership in Canadian university sports, his work behind the scenes with the Commonwealth Games and his work with the coaching fraternity. He is inducted as an individual into the University of Victoria, Basketball BC and Canadian Basketball Halls of Fame and is a member of the Order of Canada. In 2013 both Ken and Kathy Shields were inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
In the words of 1966 Physical Education graduate Roger McKay, “I have a lot to thank UBC for.” Prior to his 30 year career in teaching and coaching, Roger benefitted from UBC life, taking his courses from great teachers, being a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity plus playing briefly for the UBC Braves J.V. basketball team under the coaching of the legendary, colourful, Peter Mullins. In addition, Roger received the top student award for the Phys. Ed. graduating class of 1966.
At Oliver BC’s Southern Okanagan High School, Roger commenced in 1966 his career as a teacher, counsellor and coach also serving as the school’s Vice Principal from 1982 until retiring in 1996. During those years he was also instrumental in forming one of BC’s most successful basketball camps as well as sports leagues for youngsters, among the reasons the South Okanagan has done so well in the sport of basketball.
Meanwhile Roger’s son, Spencer, has been named UBC Thunderbird basketball’s Assistant Coach. During the late 1980s and early 1990s Spencer was one of Canada’s best university basketball players, benefitting from his dad’s coaching and sport camps. Raised in Oliver, Spencer, while starring at the University of Victoria, was five times selected Canada West All-Star and three times All-Canadian. He spent 16 years playing pro basketball in eight countries around the world. Even though Spencer was a thorn in UBC’s side while with U. Vic., he, through his father, has roots in UBC and in War Memorial Gym, bringing to the Blue & Gold today, his experience and expertise.
Written by Fred Hume, UBC Historian
SFU Woodward’s Cultural Unit, SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement
Part-time PhD student, European Graduate School (Communication and Media Philosophy)
Board Member, Vancity Community Foundation
Member, Vancouver City Planning Commission Steering Committee, SFU Center for Dialogue
Am Johal works at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement in the SFU Woodward’s Cultural Unit. He has previously worked on the Vancouver Agreement in urban economic and social development. He was the co-founder of UBC’s Humanities 101 program and was Chair of the Impact on Communities Coalition. He has been an advisor to two provincial cabinet ministers representing Transportation and Highways and Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers. He has an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics (UBC) and Commerce (Royal Roads University), an MA in International Economic Relations from the Institute for Social and European Studies in Hungary and is currently a part-time PhD student in Communication and Media Philosophy at European Graduate School in Switzerland. He is on the steering committee of SFU’s Center for Dialogue, a board member with the Vancity Community Foundation and a member of the Vancouver City Planning Commission.
Planning 10 and English Language Adapted Teacher, West Vancouver Secondary School
Blair Mercer is a Planning 10 and English Language Adapted teacher at West Vancouver Secondary School. He sponsors a number of school clubs such as Reach for the Top and ROAR – raising money and awareness of local SPCAs and a Young Writer’s Guild. He ran his own fitness consulting company for two years, worked in small theatre productions, and had a decade-long association with the Rebound Dance Collective. He has completed dozens of triathlons and many more 10km runs – placing first in his category during 1986’s Vancouver International Triathlon. Graduating from UBC’s Education (PE, Sports Injuries, and English Lit) program in 1992, Blair went on to run the Junior Drama department at Rockridge Secondary School and spent 12 years there. Most recently he has been teaching at West Vancouver Secondary School.
Fitness Trainer, YMCA of Greater Vancouver
Meetup Organizer, Vancouver Tennis Club
Cristina Gecolea is a Fitness Trainer for the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and Meetup Organizer for the Vancouver Tennis Club. She has been involved in the fitness industry since 2000 and graduated in 2007 with a BHK (Health and Fitness, Psych Minor). She currently holds BCRPA certification as a Group Fitness Instructor & Weight Trainer. Keen to market herself more as a recreation specialist (not just a Fitness Trainer/Consultant), Cristina plans to soon complete her Aquatic Fitness Instructor certification and continue freelance work as both a trainer and writer.
Award-winning choreographer, instructor, performer, and competitive judge
Founder, SexyStilettos Dance®
Direction, PUR Movement.
Born and raised in Richmond, BC, Stephanie Sy began honing her dance skills in ballet, jazz, hip hop, street jazz, contemporary, and modern at age six. Her passion, talent, and drive earned her scholarships at world-renowned dance schools. Stephanie garnered dance techniques from masters at the prestigious and largest ballet troupe in Canada, The National Ballet of Canada; Royal Winnipeg Ballet; and the most significant scholarship to date from Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. Stephanie also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia and is also a certified Personal Trainer and Kinesiologist. Stephanie has over fifteen years international experience in the dance and performance arts industry and is currently working as an award-winning choreographer, instructor, performer, and competitive judge. Her extensive body of work includes television, film, and live performance – having worked on a Campbell’s Soup Commercial, Slice Network’s Instant Beauty Pageant, CW Network’s Smallville, 20th Century Fox’s John Tucker Must Die (2006), Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Warner Bros. Picture’s Sucker Punch (2011), the Nickelodeon movie Rags (2012), and a recurring role on CW Network’s hit TV series Hellcats. In 2006 she founded a unique dance program aimed at empowering women she branded SexyStilettos Dance®. Stephanie’s creativity and budding entertainment empire has attracted media attention from FMA Weekly, local newspapers, internet lifestyle magazines, and numerous featured interviews. In between performing, filming, and adjudicating at dance competitions, Stephanie is working on the launch of her new instructional dance-fitness DVD line, a teaching certification program for SSD, a launch of her professional dance group (Le Chaleur), and has recently opened the first dance, fitness, and Power Plate® studio (PUR Movement). Stephanie strives to share her passion for dance and creative expression through instruction and performance with the world. For more information please visit www.StephanieSy.com and www.PURmovement.com.