2018 Ron White Award

The Ron White Community Service Award is presented annually to a player who best represents the values of our conference and of our communities.   This is an award that is presented to a team leader, who is respected by the coaches and his peers; a player who goes that extra mile on and off the field and gives freely of his time in the community or elsewhere. The winner of this award will be our nominee for the Past Commissioners Award.  This award has been in existence since 2002 and we have had many outstanding nominees from our conference. A $1000 education scholarship is also awarded to the recipient.

This year’s Ron White recipient

James Moar-Valley Huskers

The 2018 winner of the Ron White Award is James Moar, a second year Player with the Valley Huskers. James is 19 years of age and has managed to overcome incredible setbacks to become an amazing young man with great football skills plus the willingness to give back to his community.

James Moar grew up in Winnipeg’s north end. He was often bullied in elementary and middle schools by older children or local gang members. He enrolled in jujitsu at an early age as a way to get away from problems at home and to vent his anger. James excelled at jujitsu but left the sport to pursue football. Football allowed James the opportunity to meet young athletes from all walks of life and he has made many life-long friends.

Growing up in Winnipeg’s North End, James had to deal with friends and family members entering the gang life. Like most young teenagers in his neighbourhood he was recruited by the gangs but refused to buy into that lifestyle. It is a tough neighbourhood that hardens young people . It was his love of football that always kept him from getting involved with the lifestyle of gang violence. Last year James best friend and high school teammate was brutally stabbed to death by two young teenagers, a tragic testimony to the reality of life in the north end of Winnipeg. Losing his best friend was devastating for James , but it has been football that has given him the motivation to keep going. He honours his friend everyday through his hard work.

Despite all the negativity surrounding his upbringing, James has been focused on using football as a way to move past the tragedies. James was recruited two years ago at a Recruit Ready camp in Winnipeg organized and directed by

Bob Reist, Head Coach of the Valley Huskers. in this Camp Coach Reist saw something special in this young athlete and recruited him and he has been working with him for the past two years.

James plays on the defensive line on what has been an outstanding unit. He is well liked by his teammates and coaches and has great work ethics and is motivated to succeed.

James participates in the team’s community programs like the ‘Bowls of Hope’ a non profit organization providing hot lunches for children in need. He actively participates in a mentoring program using his own background to motivate and help young people who are in need. James also participates in an Indigenous Football Camp to help motivate and encourage these young football athletes.

James desire is to move to the next level of football. His other ambition is to enrol in a trade school where he hopes to learn an electricians trade. It is our privilege as sponsors of this award to provide him with some funds to help him achieve this goal. And most importantly, to support him in his continuing to work with young people and to be a role model for his community. We are proud to present James Moar as our 2018 winner of the Ron White Award and nominee for the CJFL Past Commissioners Award.