INNISFAIL – The community is rallying behind longtime educational assistant, coach and volunteer Jim Brittain.
The 62-year-old longtime resident recently retired in December after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
To honour Brittain’s contributions to education and Innisfail’s sporting community, the field at Innisfail High School will be renamed after him.
“Trevor (Wooff) came to us with the suggestion (to rename the field). We took it to Kurt Sacher and the board,” said Wayne Pineau, principal at Innisfail High School. “We made the announcement at his retirement party, that we’re renaming the field the Jim Brittain Field.”
Brittain grew up in Innisfail and served as an educational assistant at the high school for 23 years, spent 30 years volunteering in the town's sporting community, including Innisfail Minor Ball and Innisfail Minor Soccer, and in 2003 began his volunteer coaching career with the Innisfail Cyclones high school football team.
He also volunteered his time driving the bus for local football, basketball and soccer teams.
“He touched so many lives in so many different ways,” said Pineau, adding many came out to his retirement party on Jan. 30, to honour the man who gave so much to his community.
“The legacy that Jim is leaving is pretty impressive. Jim is such an amazing guy. He’s worked so hard but he’s also so humble,” said Pineau. “People came to pay tribute to him.”
Several local groups and businesses are also showing their support for Brittain and his family.
Proceeds from Innisfail’s Boston Pizza’s Valentines campaign, as well as money raised from a silent auction at the Fox and Hound on Feb. 16, will go towards helping Brittain.
SunGold Specialty Meats Ltd., where Brittain also worked for many years, is also stepping up to help the family and will have a team in this year’s annual 590 Sno-pitch Tournament.
The Innisfail 590 Slo-pitch League is holding its annual tournament Feb. 16 and 17 and is donating a portion of registration fees and other proceeds to Brittain.
“Saturday night we are doing a fundraiser and all of the proceeds will be going to Jim Brittain,” said Kristen Spatz, president of the slo-pitch league. “Every year we (raise funds) for someone or something.”
The fundraiser gets underway at 7:30 p.m. she noted, adding Brittain is expected to attend the event for a short time.
“SunGold Specialty Meats is putting a ball team in the tournament to show their support for Jim,” said Jeff Bobak, a tournament volunteer and a close friend of the Brittain family.
He noted Brittain is also a 590 league alumnus.
“One of the big things that Jim and (his wife) Barb want, is to get the word out about ALS,” said Bobak. “What it is, how it affects you and how people need to help.”
To donate to the Jim Brittain silent auction fundraiser contact Kristen Spatz at 403-506-6468 or [email protected]
