June 22, 2015 (Winnipeg, MB) - NWTASSA proudly announces that Robin Greig of the Yellowknife Speed Skating Club has won the Officials Award of Excellence from Speed Skating Canada. He received his award on Friday evening at the awards gala of the 2015 Speed Skating Canada AGM in Winnipeg, MB.
Robin’s career as a speed skating official has spanned over 20 years and started on the ice when his children entered the sport at Yellowknife’s Gerry Murphy Arena. Over the years, he has developed his skills in both officiating and coaching, and is presently our most highly qualified official. He is a nationally ranked Level 3B Referee and continues to pursue further qualifications at the 3A level.
Robin has been the chief or assistant referee at the past 5 Arctic Winter Games, assistant referee at two Canada Winter Games, two national championships, one National Team trials and numerous short track meets in Alberta. Locally he has been the chief referee at the past 14 NWT Speed Skating Championships. His calm demeanor, strong leadership, knowledge and fairness are well known and highly respected. He was awarded the Sport North Official of the Year in 2006.
For the past 12 years, Robin has developed and delivered Level 1 and Level 2 officials training courses. After each course, in his role as chief referee for our branch, he mentors new officials both on and off the ice, encouraging people to develop their skills and upgrade their qualifications. Robin is the only official in NWT qualified to lead officials training workshops, preparing officials annually for local and territorial competitions. He has also tirelessly promoted the use of pan northern officials for competitions such as Arctic Winter Games so that reliance on major officials from southern Canada has become all but a thing of the past.
Robin’s contributions to speed skating have not been limited to officiating as he continues to coach with the Yellowknife Speed Skating Club’s Competitive Group. He also served on the club’s executive for several years and was the Coaches and Officials Coordinator on the NWTASSA from 2003-2010. Robin’s professionalism and dedication to fairness for athletes, coaches and officials are much respected and most certainly deserve the national recognition he received this past weekend.
For more information please contact:
Stacey Christie
President, NWTASSA
dskj@northwestel.net
or
Kelsie Pagacz
Sport Director, NWTASSA
nwtspeedskating@gmail.com