Details:

Sport has always been part of Cathy Mason’s life.

With a father who was an army physical education instructor, and two older brothers, she had no choice but to get involved.

“I learned to swim as an infant in the bathtub, and played every sport imaginable growing up—field hockey, soccer, basketball, ringette, softball, you name it.”

She was in her mid-20s, in 1992, working at helping people with intellectual disabilities find residential opportunities in Pictou County, when the call to help Special Olympics came.

“It was winter and they needed a floor hockey coach. I said yes,” she recalls. “I continued with softball in the summer. When you get involved, you’re hooked.”

Thirty years later, still in community residential services, and still with Special Olympics, Mason has risen through the Special Olympics ranks, continuing to coach, but also involved in administration at the local, provincial, national, and international levels.

She has travelled the world, from Greece to Korea to Dubai, leading Special Olympics athletes, coaches, and volunteers.

Her selection to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of an outstanding volunteer career as a builder.
Long-time friend Lesley Ann Sobey cited Mason’s strong leadership skills, along with her vision, spirit, and enthusiasm.

“Cathy has recruited many athletes, coaches, committee members, volunteers and partners who have all touched the lives of thousands in our community, province, and country. She has encouraged her athletes to participate in community activities such as the annual Dragon Boat Festival in Pictou County, Communities in Bloom, and Go Clean Get Green, a community litter pick-up campaign.”

“Our athletes are our best sellers,” admits Mason. “Taking athletes with us to recruit volunteers, showing a video of them in action, makes them visible and people respond and want to get involved. They deserve front page coverage with their medals, just like any other athlete.”

Mason proudly tells of a men’s fitness group at a local gym—doctors, lawyers, business people—playing weekly floor hockey. “I told them our Special Olympics team needed practice and asked if we could play with them. They quickly agreed and several soon became volunteers with us. I got our guys into the community and the community reacted positively.”

Mason has seen athlete numbers in Pictou County grow from 40, in four sports in 1992, to close to 150 today in a dozen or more sports. She has grown from coach to mission staff for provincial teams at national games, to Team Canada’s team manager and then Chef-De-Mission at World Games.

She has been Pictou County’s regional coordinator for Special Olympics Nova Scotia almost every year since 1996, has served on the provincial leadership committee and the provincial board of directors, and the Canadian National Team program committee.

Mason ignores her personal accomplishments and contributions. She talks proudly of what the athletes accomplish, physically, emotionally, and socially.

“I tell each and every one that if they come to practice and are willing to put in the work, they’ll play—and everyone does. Our coaches like to think we’re good role models. We can lose by 20 and lose gracefully. We expect our athletes to win and celebrate with grace as well, not to humiliate. Of course, everyone wants to win, but we stress that doing your best is important, too.”

Asked if there were WOW moments through the decades, she quickly talked of the friends she has made, worldwide, from organization leaders to athletes.

She said winning the Jim Thompson Award in 2012 from Special Olympics Canada for volunteer contribution and exemplifying the spirit, philosophy and goals of SOC, was a personal WOW moment, but quickly moved on.

For her, it’s all about the athletes and the organization:

“I feel I’ve gotten more from my involvement than I’ve given. The athletes are so appreciative of everything you do. They become family.”

[Article written by Joel Jacobson]