School Sports, Builder, 2015 |
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For more than 30 years, Vea has taken a lead role in inspiring, coaching and encouraging youth and teens in the Tri-Cities to lead active lives. He taught and coached at a number of local schools, including Maillard Middle then Junior Secondary, where he was a member of the inaugural staff.
He was the program’s Athletic Director for 18 years, coaching volleyball eight district and three Fraser Valley champions, girls basketball two district champions, golf and track and field. Many of his athlete-students pursued athletics and/or coaching in their collegiate and post-secondary careers.
As the Fraser Valley girls basketball coach, Vea skippered the squad to a provincial gold medal at the 1989 BC Games. For his coaching and dedication, Vea was awarded the B.C. School Sports coach of the year award in 2006 and the BC School Sports merit award in 2007.
His organizational work was vital to the district’s scheduling, of which many of his playoff and scheduling formats are still being used today, nearly 10 years after his retirement from teaching.