Goodwill Ambassadors - Tomorrow's Legends

Adam Callaghan

Adam is a native of Sydney, Nova Scotia and grew up in a household of athletes who played various organized sports. As part of that avid sports family, Adam found basketball at age 5 and has been playing since that time. He started with the small ball program at Brookland Elementary where he trained and played for seven years. As a youth player, his first team was the Brookland Blazers where he played from grade four to grade six. During that time, he also made the U12 rep team for Basketball Cape Breton's (BCB) and played for two seasons.

As he moved on to middle school, his love for the game continued to grow along with his desire to compete at a high level. While playing for the WPM Mustangs, he returned to BCB as a U14 rep player where he enjoyed an additional two seasons. In 2016, he made the Sydney Academy Wildcats Junior Varsity squad and played for the BCB U16 rep team in the same season. The following year, he made the Wildcats Varsity team and had a remarkable three year run under head coach Jonathan Penny. During the summer seasons he continued playing U16 before moving on to U18, travelling throughout Atlantic Canada and Eastern United States. In his 2018-2019 season with the Wildcats, Adam earned 2nd team all star and solidified himself as a highly skilled competitor. In his senior year, he earned 1st Team All-Star at the 2020 Coal Bowl in New Waterford, as well as 1st Team All-Star in the Cape Breton league. Adam became known around the league as a not only a skilled player but one with tenacity and a high IQ for the game. He became a great leader and demonstrated his ability to bring out the best is his teammates, particularly the younger players. Sportsmanship has always been a pillar of his game and many of his teammates adopted his style. In his senior year of high-school he capped off the season earning the team’s MVP.

While Adam was pursuing his athletic goals, he always found time to volunteer, assisting with community camps, clinics, and officiating youth games. He is now enrolled a Mount St. Vincent University and currently plays on the men’s basketball team. Adam is excited about joining the cause to help his community and its youth population, bringing about similar opportunities and experiences.

Alex Ikejiani

Alex is a native of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and was introduced to sports at a very young age. He started with baseball, enrolling in Glace Bay’s Little League program and spent an equal amount of time competing against his older brothers in basketball. By age 11, he decided that basketball was his sport of choice and it did not take long before he developed a competitive spirit and an absolute love for the game.

In the mid-80s, Alex enrolled in a nearby school that assembled teams up to grade 8. He went through tryouts and quickly learned that he was not only a skilled player but held a high basketball IQ. In his final year of junior high, he was receiving call ups to play for the high school team. In 1986, he joined the Morrison High Mariners as a grade 9 rookie. Just a year later, he represented team Nova Scotia as a starter on the juvenile team that won gold in the Eastern Canadian Championships. In 1998, he led team Nova Scotia back to the medal rounds capturing silver. That same year, he also played on the Nova Scotia Men’s Junior team, remaining with the squad through 1989, where he played in the Jeux Canada Games in Saskatoon. After graduating from Morrison High in 1989, he enjoyed a four-year career with the University of Manitoba Bisons – a squad that achieved a top 10 national ranking in all four years and the number one ranking in the country multiple times. He trained with the Canadian National team in 1991 and represented the top 25 players in Canada under 21.

After an impressive career as a player, he decided to get involved in coaching, joining his brother as coach of the Community Y Under 16 boy’s team in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), Canada’s national anti-doping agency responsible for implementing the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). The agency serves all national team sports for Olympics, world games, U SPORTS, and Junior Hockey. He also serves as a board member for Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF), an organization that promotes, through education, the knowledge, skills, values, perspectives, and practices essential to a sustainable future.

Alex is an award-winning environmental lawyer and a certified specialist in environmental law. He works for the Department of Justice in Ottawa, Ontario. In his 23 years as a lawyer, he focused on environmental law, oceans, and resource management law. Since 2003, he has led a series of lectures covering topics on governmental ethics, science and the law, environmental advocacy, and cultural intelligence. He delivered many of these lectures at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, the Institute of the Environment, and the Telfer School of Management. In 2016, the University of Ottawa appointed him as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Law, focusing on environmental law principles, policy and climate change. Alex is also a contributing author to the book entitled Environment in the Courtroom.

Alex graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1994 with a degree in Political Science. He earned his law degree from Dalhousie Law School in 1997 and is a practicing member of the Ottawa Law Society as well as a member of the Nova Scotia Bar Society. Alex currently resides in Ottawa with his wife and two children.

Larry MacKenzie

Larry is a native of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia with a deep understanding of the value of youth sports. He began his sports career as a youngster in 1981, picking up baseball and joining Glace Bay's Little League - an organization that assembled 16 youth teams - eight from Table Head and eight from Cameron Bowl. In 1983, he was selected for the Glace Bay Colonels - the renowned all-star team that won 5 Canadian Little League Championships under head coach and manager - the late Henry Boutilier - a 40 year coaching veteran. Larry was a multi-sport athlete, playing in Glace Bay's minor hockey association at the same time. As the late 80s arrived, Larry adopted basketball as his sport of choice. In his Jr. High years he played on the varsity teams and in 1986, moved onward into high school - playing for the Morrison High Mariners. In 1987, Larry was selected to the Basketball Nova Scotia Cape Breton Regional Showcase Team. A year later, he made the Nova Scotia Provincial Juvenile Team. In 1989, Larry played for the Capers , Cape Breton University Men's Basketball Team (formally UCCB), before moving on to Teacher's College (TC). While pursuing his education at TC, he played for the men's team and remained on the squad throughout his studies. In 1994, Larry became a teacher and remained very active in sports. He became a coach - coaching for the NSSAF Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field and Fastpitch teams. In 2000-2001, he was the assistant coach for the Atlantic Selects U17 Girls Basketball squad. Soon after, he became a NSBO Level 3 official, refereeing in the NSSAF, ACAA and AUS leagues. He continued officiating until 2018.

Larry lives in Truro, Nova Scotia and works at Brookfield Elementary as a Physical Education teacher.

Leslie Timmons

Leslie is a native of Cape Breton. She grew up in Sydney being involved in a number of recreational and school teams, while attending Colby School and Woodill Junior High. In the summer of 1986, Leslie and her family moved to Albert Bridge and as a result she enrolled at Riverview High School. Leslie's first experience with high school competitive sport was with the Riverview soccer team. She played soccer for 3 years, helping her team win the Cape Breton Regional banner twice and representing Riverview at Provincials. It was in her grade 11 year that she decided to tryout for the junior varsity basketball team. After making the squad she played just half the season before being approached by head coach of the varsity team, Ron Shaw. Shaw invited her to practice during the holiday break as a few players were out with injuries. It didn't take long to earn a permanent spot on the team. Hard work and commitment empowered her to cease an opportunity and by the end of that season she was announced in the starting lineup at the provincial championships.

In 1989, Leslie was fortunate enough to be part of a truly special team and talented group of basketball players. Riverview High School won the regional banner and hosted provincials. In March 1989, Riverview won its first female provincial title which remains a highlight of Leslie's basketball career. In her grade 12 year, she was the recipient of Riverview’s Female Athlete of the Year and after graduating in June of 1989, Leslie was accepted to Cape Breton University (formerly UCCB), on a basketball scholarship. She represented CBU from 1989 to 1994. She played in every game for 5 seasons, without injury - a remarkable feat for an athlete playing at such a high level. She captained the Capers for the last 3 seasons of her career and was a two-time Female Athlete of the Year (91-92, 93-94). Leslie went on to represent Nova Scotia at the Canadian Junior Basketball Championship tournament, under head coach Mike MacKay.

For more than 30 summers Leslie played ladies softball at the local, and maritime level, and continues to carry on the family tradition of waterskiing on the Mira River. After graduating from CBU with a Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (Sport Option) Degree, Leslie continued her schooling at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. In 1996, she obtained a Bachelor of University Studies (Education Major) and has been a teacher with the Cape Breton Victoria Centre of Education since 1997. She is currently a grade Primary teacher at Riverside School, in Albert Bridge.

Leslie has coached many youth basketball teams, ranging from elementary to high school. She has been involved with Basketball Cape Breton for the past 6 years as both a coach and camp instructor. For 9 seasons, she was one of only a few female basketball officials, with the Cape Breton Metro Basketball Officials. She is an active volunteer in her community, having served as Vice Commodore of the Mira Boat Club and a member of the Riverside School Advisory Council.

Leslie believes that children learn more than just skills when being involved in organized sport. Learning leads to growth and growth leads to confidence. Leslie preaches the importance of having a positive mindset - and to be ready to learn and be the best teammate you can possibly be.

Leslie currently resides in Albert Bridge, Cape Breton with her husband Scott, and two children, Jenna and Luke.

Sandy Dolan, Atlantic Meats

55 Harbour Drive, Sydport Industrial Park, Edwardsville, Nova Scotia

Sandy was born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia and is a huge supporter of community initiatives. He is a graduate of Sydney Academy High School and went on to study business at Cape Breton University (formerly UCCB).

His dad, Eric Dolan founded Atlantic Meat Packers Ltd in 1990. Sandy became involved in the business at an early age, working as a cleaner while attending school. He studied the business and worked his way through the company to take over for his dad after his retirement in 2002. He is now the Owner and Manager of Atlantic Meats which has established itself as a packer of quality meats.

Sandy and his wife, Melanie have three children. They understand the importance of sports and healthy activity in their children’s lives. They have introduced them to basketball, hockey, curling, soccer, and tia kwan do.

As a father and volunteering as a hockey coach for many years , Sandy understands the value of organized sports and how so many other indoor activities will benefit from a multi-sport complex.

Sterling Feener

Sydney, Nova Scotia

Sterling is a Sydney native. A graduate of Sydney Academy, Sterling furthered his education completing a Bachelor of Business Administration from CBU (formally UCCB). Sterling and his family reside in the Ashby area.

Sports, both organized and pick-up, have played a huge role in Sterling’s life. Growing up, he played baseball and basketball anywhere he could find a game. Sterling is noted and proud to say, we didn’t have cell phones, we had gloves, bats and balls and never left the house without them! Sterling’s passion for sports at a young age continues today and he appreciates the many benefits sports have especially for children. As his own children grew and participated, Sterling volunteered with several sports organizations over the years.

Sterling has enjoyed a 30+ year career in business development and project management. His career has taken him to numerous interesting and beautiful countries and cities around the globe. A keen believer in cultural exchange and learning, Sterling was instrumental in introducing the game of road hockey to a group of students in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). This included carting 2 nets, 44 hockey sticks as well as other accessories from Sydney, NS all the way, 50+ hours by plane, to Port Moresby, PNG.

Over the last few years, with children grown, Sterling and his family have been involved with community based activities including food cupboards, senior support and those organizations leading the way, fighting the battle and trying to find solutions to homelessness, mental illness and addictions.

After a few years away from sports, Sterling is patiently waiting for his 1 year old grandson Josiah to be able to throw a ball. To help with that development Sterling introduced Josiah, then 10 months old, to holding said ball! He claims the photo showing this is not photoshopped because that program is well beyond his technological skill set!

Given this refreshed and renewed focus on sports for kids, Sterling is excited to be a goodwill ambassador with Tomorrow’s Legends to see this tremendous vision become a reality!

Shauna MacAulay

Shauna is a very proud resident of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and as a Community Ambassador she brings a wealth of volunteer, business and sports experience to our organization. Before graduating from Morrison High School in 1979, Shauna was active in various sports in her community. She went on to Cape Breton University (formally UCCB) and earned a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies – Sports Administration. This paved the way for a long career in sports management before moving into the accounting profession.

At a very young age, Shauna was introduced to dance and gymnastics. She became an associate dance teacher with the National Association of Teachers of Dance in the early 1980’s. Teaching at the Doris MacDonald School of Dance she taught ballet, tap, modern dance and acrobatics to approximately 200 young dancers a week.

In 1980, she founded the UCCB School of Gymnastics where she spent five years building a quality program. As a result of her efforts, the program has evolved and continues to operate as a successful long-standing operation on our island. In 1987, she served on the Cape Breton Island Games Gymnastics Committee. Soon after, she became the Development Coordinator for the Nova Scotia Rugby Union, serving a three-year term. During that same period, she also served as Co-Ordinator for the Nova Scotia Orienteering Association. In 1990, Shauna became the Executive Director for the Ontario Rugby Union serving a two-year term. While in these various roles, Shauna was involved in countless provincial, national and international sporting events. Along the way, she obtained National Coaching Certifications – Level 1 and 11 - Technical & Practical Gymnastics, Badminton and Volleyball. She also became a Registered Fitness Appraiser for the Canadian Association of Sport Sciences. As she continued to enhance her sports certifications, picking up Level 1 & 11 from the Athletic Trainers Association of Nova Scotia, she garnered an abundance of business experience. Business planning, proposal development and the preparation of financial plans for these various sports organization were incorporated to her roles.

In 1991, after an impressive run with sports organizations, Shauna decided to focus more on the business side of things and began working for a Chartered Accountant in North York, Ontario. She remained with the firm until 1997 before returning to Cape Breton. In 1998, she became employed with Unsworth Kachafanas in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Business planning, proposal writing, preparation of financial statements and the preparing tax returns are just some of the are accounting management duties for which she is responsible.

Today, she is employed as a Manager with the accounting firm, HKCPA in Sydney.

Kimberly Trimm

Kim is a native of Sydney Forks, Nova Scotia. She grew up in a sports family where she and her siblings played basketball and soccer while pursuing piano and highland dance. Organized sports has taught her the importance of commitment and teamwork - focusing on common goals to achieve results.

Married to Allan with two daughters, Katie and Ainslie, she instilled the notion of active lifestyles for her entire family. Both daughters play soccer and basketball and she is passionate about being physically active. They all enjoy the outdoors with time spent on a variety of activities including hiking, kayaking, biking and skiing and boating. Kim has also coached basketball and soccer for various organizations and remains active in her community today.

As a graduate of Riverview High School, Kim went on and obtained a Bachelor of Business administration degree from Cape Breton University (formally UCCB) and currently works for Parkland Fuels Corp. She has worked with the company for more than 20 years, with the past 15 years as Regional Operations Manager for Atlantic Canada. In her role as Operations Manager, she has travelled extensively throughout the Atlantic region, visiting communities of various sizes but Cape Breton remains among her preferred place because of the people, the culture and untapped opportunities.

Kim has volunteered for Loaves and Fishes, the IWK Telethon and 100 Women that Care. She too sees the challenges facing Cape Breton youth and believes that organized sports builds strong communities and empowers youth to achieve great things - as we often - maybe even legendary things.