Employee Volunteer Spotlight: Jeff Matkin
My Time at Coastal Community
My name is Jeff Matkin, I've held various positions within Coastal Community's commercial division over the past 9 years. I am currently AVP Commercial Services which includes managing both our Nanaimo and Parksville Business Centres. I'm reside in Royston and travel regularly to various communities on Vancouver Island.
Please tell us about the organization you volunteer with and what you do and why this organization is important to you.
My volunteerism has largely been directed to the Comox Valley Minor Hockey Association (CVMHA ) in recent years in a caching capacity. This year I coached U11 and U15 Flyers house teams, development teams and all star teams in addition to the U13 female Lightning team.
CVMHA serves approximately 700+ youth hockey players from Royston to Black Creek in Initiation, House, Female and Rep. divisions. The association was established to give hockey players the opportunity to participate in a well organized and structured hockey program while providing a learning and nurturing experience for young athletes in a minor hockey setting. The qualities of sportsmanship and good citizenship are promoted. The welfare, education and social development of the participants are the paramount objectives of this association.
CVMHA is important to me not only because I have 3 children playing in various division, but also because it allows volunteers and young athletes to lead by example, recognizing that these experiences may have a profound effect on the future attitudes, moral development and community involvement of these young people. CVMHA provides opportunities for youth to fulfill their potential in a safe and healthy environment by focusing on the development of all players in both competitive and recreational programs to maximize player potential.
Why is volunteering important to you?
I get the privilege of working with amazing volunteers, new hockey players and driven athletes to assist in developing healthy, community minded and gritty youth. Volunteering for CVMHA association is something I find deeply rewarding as it's about much more than just hockey. It's about teaching youth to be sportsmanlike, to be responsible to more than themselves, and to achieve their athletic and leadership potential.
Which organization are you directing your winning funds to and why?
I would like to direct my winning funds to KidSport Comox Valley. This is an organization dear to me as well as a good coaching friend of mine that we lost recently. KidSport provides grants to help cover the costs of registration fees so that all kids aged 18 and under in Comox Valley can play a season of sport.
