LOUIS GERVAIS MINOR HOCKEY/EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST
Gervais’ Generosity Touched Many Lives – Keith Solomon (News Optimist – July 18, 2004)
How proud Louis Gervais would be to know of all the hard work his friends and family have done to preserve his memory.
He’d be even happier to know that those efforts are going to help aspiring young athletes as they make their way in the world.
The Battlefords’ native, who passed away suddenly a year and a halfago at the age of 47, was a dedicated and valued member of our localsporting community. A coach, a sponsor and a devoted hockey dad,Gervais was the kind of person who makes a good community better by hispresence.
Now, thanks to the efforts of Louis’ wife Lisa, other familymembers, and friends like the once legendary local rock band Rosetta,his name continues to live on in the form of a scholarship. The firstof those $1000 awards was presented last month at the NBCHS graduationceremonies, when a tearful Lisa Gervais presented Battlefords’ athleteand scholar Alan Edmunds with the Louis Gervais Minor Hockey EducationScholarship. The scholarship will continue to be awarded each year to adeserving graduating Battlefords’ athlete (male or female), who ismoving on to post secondary education.
Rendered speechless by the emotions of the moment, Lisa laterexplained how the Louis Gervais Trust Fund came to be. Her biggestfear, she said, was that years from now, Louis’ name, and hisdedication to this community, might somehow be forgotten. She, amongothers, was determined that that would never happen.
Rest assured, Lisa, it won’t.
With the help of brother-in-law Paul, sister-in-law Shelley andother members of the Gervais family, Lisa set about to create the trustfund in her late husband’s name. It turned out to be a tremendousamount of work, but Lisa had incredible support. Lawyer and friendKevin Migneault handled much of the legal side of setting up the fundand scholarship, and accountant Bill Clements agreed to administer it.The Battlefords Minor Hockey Association – with which Louis was soheavily involved – worked tirelessly to get every detail of the fundright, with BMHA past-president Ann McArthur, director Lionel Hawryliwand administrator Kelly Strain providing valued insight and putting inmany hours of their time. David George was another who worked long andhard to bring the fund to life. Those who helped set the fund up nowserve as members of the scholarship selection committee.
Behind the scenes, there were others who made it happen. Among thoseunsung heroes were Harry Michael Dekker, Chris Dekker, Jim Ross, BillArmstrong, Dale Peddie, Mark Wing and Duane van Elst – oncecollectively know as ‘Rosetta’.
A quarter of a century ago this notorious band of brothers onceshattered the ear drums of the faithful throughout the entire NorthWest, and Louis was one of their biggest fans. Now, many years laterand with a lot less hair, the band members had scattered with the fourwinds, with only Harry Michael still living in the Battlefords. ButLouis’ death had gotten them talking again and reminiscing about oldtimes, and they decided to reunite in Louis’ honour last fall. Wordspread like wildfire and the concert was sold out in no time flat.
And in the spirit of the occasion – so fitting, considering thecharitable nature of Louis himself – others gave selflessly to thecause. Scott Laroque at T & T Printing printed all the tickets forthe concert, then turned around and refused any payment for his work.Pius Pfeifer (at the Tropical Inn) opened his rooms at no cost to bandmembers without a place to stay.
The much-anticipated reunion concert was held at the Don RossCentre, and those who were there are still talking about it today.Rosetta was back at the top of their form, and the concert raised asignificant amount of seed money to put the Louis Gervais MemorialScholarship Fund on solid ground for many years to come.
In addition to Rosetta’s unforgettable performance, a highlight ofthe evening was a moving video presentation put together by DallenSchwab and Access 7’s Martin Smith, showing photos from throughoutLouis’ life and done to the music of Aerosmith’s ‘Dream On’.
The evening ended on a celebratory note, with the Battlefords’Toastmaster General Terry Lumsdon leading everyone in a rousingrendition of the Troggs’ classic ‘Louis Louis’.
Yeah, we gotta go – all of us, at some point. And Louis Gervais was one who went all too soon.
But it’s clear from the response of this community that Gervais’ time here was not wasted. He touched the lives of many.
Thanks to those who loved him, he will continue to do so, helpingyoung student athletes through his scholarship fund, the way he oncehelped them in person as a sponsor, a coach, a mentor and a friend.
About the Louis Gervais Scholarship
In memory of minor hockey benefactor, Louis Gervais,who passed away December 27, 2002, a “Scholarship Trust” Fund has beenestablished from fund raising activities and donations.
Theintention of the Scholarship Trust is to grant at least one annualaward of $1,000.00 to a deserving male or female applicant subject tothe following criteria:
1. Applicants must be a resident of the Battlefords as defined inBattlefords Minor Hockey Association (“BMHA”),Constitution/Bylaws/Policy.
2. Applicants must have been registered with BMHA and participated in Battlefords Minor Hockey a minimum of five (5) years.
3. Applicants must be graduating from Grade 12 or have graduatedfrom Grade 12 within the previous two (2) years, with a continuedactivity in hockey and the intention to continue post-secondaryeducation.
4. Successful candidate(s) will receive the award upon receipt bythe selection committee of proof of acceptance and attendance at arecognized post- secondary institution, confirming the candidate istaking a minimum 60% of a full course load of studies/training.
5. The selection committee reserves the right to make more than one(1) annual award, to decline granting an award in any given year, todefer payment of an award and to revoke an award.
6. Applications must be in writing and should outline particulars ofparticipation in hockey, community and school activities, as well asoutlining your future hockey and education intentions. A transcript ofyour most recent school grades is required and character references areadvisable.
7. Applications are to be submitted to:
Louis Gervais Minor Hockey/Education Scholarship
c/o Clements & Kwong
Chartered Accountants
1682 - 100th Street
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
S9A OW6
8. Deadline for applications is June 1st of any given year.Notification to successful applicant(s) is to be made by June 30 ofeach year.
9. Inquiries may be directed to:
Battlefords Minor Hockey Association
Box 684
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
S9A 2Y9
Telephone: 446-3393
Fax: 446-0555
Website/email : www.battlefordsminorhockey.ca
Winning reciepients of the Award:
2009 Nick Strain and Brett Miller
2008 Cody Murphy and Jeff Reimer
2007 Ian Kolberg and Kendall Albert
2006 Ken Atcheynum
2005 Mitch Clark and Brittany George
2004 Alan Edmunds