A Fruitvale native has been recognized by the NHL’s Calgary Flames for her role with the organization and throughout the community.
Jodie Schreiner was awarded the J.R. McCaig Award on March 7 at the annual Sportsnet Brightest Star luncheon in Calgary.
The award is presented to “two Calgary Flames personnel, a player and a staff member, who best exemplify McCaig’s enduring virtues of respect, courtesy and compassion for all individuals he encountered both in his professional and everyday life,” said a team press release.
Schreiner, along with Flames defenceman Dougie Hamilton, were this year’s recipients of the award in honour of the former Flames owner who passed away 12 year ago after a battle with cancer.
Schreiner, a J.L. Crowe Secondary graduate, has been with the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Customer Service and Sales department for almost a decade. The press release highlighted her attitude and contribution to the team and communities.
“Respected and well-liked by her co-workers for her positive attitude and infectious laugh, Jodie treats her clients and all Flames fans with great pride of the Flaming ‘C’ and goes above and beyond in making each experience a memorable one,” said the release.
“Away from delivering amazing entertainment experiences to her customers, Jodie has focused her time and energy as a coach for the Special Olympics Calgary floor hockey team for the last 10 years. Along with personally raising funds for her athletes programs to ensure they have the necessary resources to succeed, she guided her team to gold at the 2015 Alberta Provincial Winter Games, followed by a bronze medal at the 2016 National Special Olympics in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. In recognition of her efforts, she was named the 2016 Special Olympics Calgary Female Coach of the Year and Special Olympics Alberta Coach of the Year.
“Next month, Jodie will be participating at the 6th Annual Sheraton Celebrity Dance off in Red Deer with all proceeds benefiting the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre and the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre. The respect and admiration she has for her athletes and all individuals is inspiring and speaks directly to the virtues that Mr. McCaig set forth during his time with the Calgary Flames.”
Contacted by the Trail Times, Schreiner credited her roots in the Kootenays for instilling the passion she brings to her many roles.
“I am so blessed to have been grown up in Fruitvale, I truly believe I am the woman I am today by the community of people that raised me,” she said in an email reply. “I have many fond memories of back home and I never forget where I come from and every one that I meet today knows I am from Fruitvale.
“My hockey career started in Fruitvale with minor hockey then I was secretary treasurer of the Beaver Valley Nitehawks. I have done a lot of community work in Trail with being Miss Congeniality, through sport and school. I contributed a lot back into my community by supporting minor hockey in Trail, Fruitvale and Rossland as well as schools in Trail and Fruitvale.”
She said much of her energy for the Special Olympics program comes from the athletes who continue to inspire her.
“As soon as I walk in to coach and see one of the athlete’s faces and how excited they are to see me I get an instant wind.
“My passion for Special Olympics did root from home with having special friends like Terry Lee who I would ride the bus with and as a teenager go for lunch once a month and he would join my friends at the local hockey games.”
Schreiner and Hamilton, who was recognized for his charitable work and involvement with the Alberta Children’s Hospital, were presented their awards by the co-owner of the Calgary Flames and J.R.’s son Jeffrey McCaig.
The recipients of the J.R. McCaig Award received a limited-edition bronze sculpture entitled RESPECT that depicts a cowboy showing his appreciation and respect to his horse by loosening the cinch, removing the bridle and allowing the horse to drink from his hat. The pieces were sculpted by Cremona, AB., artist Diane Anderson.
(Above: Fruitvale native Jodie Schreiner was presented with the J.R. McCaig Award by the Calgary Flames for her passion and dedication to the club and the community. She is pictured with co-winner Dougie Hamilton (left) and co-owner of the Calgary Flames, and J.R.’s son, Jeffrey McCaig (middle). Photo courtesy of the Calgary Flames)