The Sacred Heart School of Montreal One of Canada's oldest independent Catholic schools for girls

By Mark Lidbetter, The Suburban, June 30 2010, Page 42.

Sacred Heart Saints' coach Martin Pagé has earned the inaugural Suburban GMAA Coach of the Year award for his dedication to the student athletes he is involved with. First and foremost, it was a tough decision to make as all the nominees were deserving but when it was factored in the time and teams Pagé sees to while being in charge of the math department at Sacred Heart School of Montreal, that proved to be the winning equation. Pagé, now in his eighth year at the school was onboard as a coach from his first year.

Over the years he has coached golf, volleyball, badminton, touch football, initiated a volleyball club as the players find the regular season too short and got ice hockey off the ground as a program for the students and recently has coached the teachers team in ultimate Frisbee. How does he do it? "I don't have any kids," Pagé joked. "Really though, I am fortunate that my wife (Marie-Josée Talbot-Provost) is also involved, we run the ski club together and she coaches the cross country runners and cross country skiers."

What draws Pagé to coaching is the opportunity to interact with his students in a different setting. "I want the kids to realize their true potential," he said. "To know their limits and to fulfill their capabilities because sports and life is not about winning all the time, there are losses to deal with as well. Team sports especially, to see them work with each other and push each other to do well."

The toughest part of coaching for Pagé is in getting to truly know each individual player. "It is in knowing who needs a pat on the back, who needs to be prodded more," he said. "Each individual is different and as a coach it is in recognizing as how to deal with them the right way."

Growing up, Pagé was an athlete but it was only when he became a coach that he realized the importance and the contribution his coaches played in his growth. "When I was playing hockey in college in Lennoxville I had this coach, Sylvain Laflamme, who was a great coach," he said. "I only realized that fact when I began coaching but I e-mailed a thank you letter to him. I hope that the players I coach realize the importance the coach plays, we are part of the team too."

Pagé notes there are many people who have been part of his journey as a coach and for their contributions he is very thankful. "Sara Neef, Peter Kousik, our director of athletics Danielle L'Ecuyer, Greg Griffin, Dawn and Ron Cummings has all been instrumental in my development as coach. They all deserve this award."

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