Jamie Shaw is going to be inducted into the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame.

Shaw was a dedicated coach and teacher, as well as serving as the athletic director at F.H. Collins Secondary School from 2007 to 2016, when he became the school’s vice-principal.

According to a Sport Yukon press release, he coached a number of teams across a variety of sports, including basketball, hockey, and athletics, and coached for Team Yukon in numerous national and international competitions, including the Canada Games, Arctic Winter Games, Western Canada Games, and more.

Shaw believed that hard work paid off, and saw sport as the perfect conduit for athletes and coaches alike to challenge themselves, to grow, and ultimately to succeed.

“Sometimes in life things go wrong,” Shaw said. “It’s how you deal with it. Sports give us the avenue to learn how to deal with it.”

He cherished education, both as a responsibility and privilege as a teacher, but also as a life-long student, who continually trained and gained coaching certifications in a variety of sports.

Known for his humour and generosity, Shaw was as equally dedicated to the development of Yukon coaches as he was to athletes, mentoring numerous coaches who continue to work hard developing sport across the territory.

In 2018, at the young age of 43, Shaw passed away following a decade-long battle with cancer. In that time, his dedication to athletes and coaches never wavered, and he continued to infuse his energy and enthusiasm into every corner of the Yukon sport community.

The Star spoke with his younger brother Jordan Shaw Friday.

“Jamie was always a passionate person about whatever he set his mind to. He was extremely motivated, able to create systems which allowed him to reach his goals, whether it be scholastic, athletic or further on this coaching and educating. He was always really a diligent, warm, funny guy, who put others before himself.”

To say that Jamie Shaw was well-educated would be an understatement.

“Scholastically Jamie had four degrees, so he had his Education degree, a French degree, a Physical Education Degree and a Master’s in Coaching Methodologies, and then he had certification in almost every sport, which would allow him to coach. He’s taken almost every class you could think of to help him become a better coach and communicator,” related Jordan.

Jamie was involved in many sports.

“Jamie played hockey. He was a good hockey player, (a) big defenceman with a booming slap shot.

“Did karate when we were younger as well. A lot of weightlifting, a lot of running. We had a pretty athletic family. Our parents were always motivating us to exercise and maintain a certain level of physical fitness.”

His passion for sport and commitment to life-long learning is carried on by the Jamie Shaw Memorial Fund – which provides access to training and development for Yukon athletes and coaches – and by the Jamie Shaw Basketball Tournament held annually in Whitehorse.

“I think it’s a fantastic tournament,” said Jordan. “The idea that Jamie – even with him being gone – has helped bring kids together into F.H. to play in a basketball tournament where athletes from all over the territory and northern Canada are able to come and compete.

“It’s just a fantastic experience. I’ve been to each one of them and the school spirit and the camaraderie, and the energy that the young kids have – it’s just great to see that. Jamie really loved to be part of those tournaments when he was here.

“Seeing that carrying on in his name is a big part of the healing process for myself and my family.”

Jamie has left a legacy that lives on.

“We’re extremely proud of Jamie, the impact that he had on the community and he continues to have,” added Jordan.

“I’ve had the blessing of meeting a lot of his former students and athletes. Each one of them has a different story about how Jamie affected their lives. I’ve had some pretty emotional conversations with young people about the impacts that Jamie had on them.

“I get kids coming in for interviews for jobs who are former basketball players or former students. They always have great things to say about him.”

F.H. Collins teacher and tournament organizer Andrew Jansen explained how the tourney came about at last year’s event.

“We started the Jamie Shaw Memorial tournament five years ago, when Jamie Shaw, a beloved teacher and then principal in our school, passed away from leukemia in April of 2018.

“We started the first tournament in 2018 in December and then we had the second one in 2019 and we were gaining a lot of momentum and then unfortunately in 2020 and 2021, we couldn’t run it through the pandemic, so this (2022) is kind of our restart to it.

“We raise a lot of funds for the Jamie Shaw Memorial Foundation, which helps underprivileged youth in our territory have a chance to be successful and achieve things they might not be able to – they’re limited by money or opportunities, so it’s a worthy cause that Jamie really supported. He dedicated his life to the school and the students in the communities where he taught.”

Jordan added of the memorial fund, “We’ve been able to raise a lot of money for the Yukon as well in Jamie’s name and bring that up so people are aware that they can make donations to that and 100 per cent of the proceeds go to students, student athletes and coaches in the Yukon.”

Jordan said there’s a big emphasis within the memorial fund on people giving back to the community.

“People have stressed in their applications that they’re willing to come back and coach and to pass on that knowledge that they’ve gained through the funding.

“The idea behind it is that we keep that circle going, where you educate and give back to the community so that somebody else can be lifted up and continue on.”

Jordan was asked what Jamie would think of this hall of fame honour.

“Jamie wasn’t big on pageantry. He wanted to just go about his business and stay out of the spotlight but I think he’d be proud of himself, as he should be, for the effort and commitment that he put into sport in the Yukon.”

As for what the honour means to Jordan, he said, “I’ve always been proud of my brother, as most younger brothers are. You look up to your big brother. Jamie has always been just a great example of what you can achieve when you put your mind to something.

“My father (Gordon) still has a tough time with Jamie not being with us and he’s not able to participate in the ceremonies. It’s too emotional for him but I know it really meant a lot to him as well. He’s obviously proud of his son.”

“Jamie belongs on this wall,” said Sport Yukon executive director Tracey Bilsky. “The legacy he has left in everyone he touched will live on. He was an outstanding person who left far more than he took, and he is sorely missed.”

The Yukon Sports Hall of Fame induction is an annual event recognizing a person’s excellence as an athlete, coach, builder, or a team’s success at the national and international level.

Jamie Shaw is to be inducted into the hall on May 16.

On Facebook, search for Jamie Shaw Memorial Fund, where a link to donate can be found.

Those wishing to apply for funding or learn more can go to https://www.jamieshawmemorialfund.com