The St. Albert Physical Education Council (SAPEC) celebrates its 38th year of organizing athletic events for junior high and elementary schools for the benefit of local students.
The council also helps promote physical education and health within the schools, including professional development activities, workshops and conferences.
"SAPEC is a local treasure that is constantly serving the athletic needs of students throughout our school system," said Roger Scott, the junior high inter-school committee chair on the inaugural executive. "It's been a sensational success for St. Albert schools and a model for communities in the province."
It was established Dec. 1, 1976 as the St. Albert Physical Education Teachers' Council (SAPETC) at a meeting at Paul Kane High School with 15 schools represented.
Today, the council consists of 29 schools from the Public, Catholic and Francophone districts in St. Albert. It meets as a body of teachers, coaches and associated groups several times a year.
"When SAPETC first started it was both the Protestant (now public) and Catholic districts. We are very unique that way. I don't think there are too many councils like this that exist in the province that include two or more districts," said Sir George Simpson teacher Cindy Andrews, a longtime SAPEC supporter and treasurer on the executive. "Once the Francophone district had schools in St. Albert they were invited to join SAPEC."
It wasn't that long ago when the T was removed and SAPEC was the official abbreviation. The new letterhead includes the SAPEC, St. Albert Public and St. Albert Catholic logos.
"You don't see that too often and it's something we are very proud of," Andrews said. "It took me several months last year to get permission from all the districts to include the logos on our letterhead."
The initial meeting to set up a teachers' council for physical education and sport to meet the needs of a rapidly growing St. Albert was hatched by Perry Pearn of Paul Kane, Dan Bouwmeester of Vital Grandin and Scott from Lorne Akins.
Two high schools (Paul Kane and St. Albert High), three junior highs (Father Jan, Lorne Akins, and Simpson) and four elementary schools (Vital Grandin, Albert Lacombe, Sir Alexander Mackenzie and Robert Rundle) were joined by Vincent J. Maloney and Paul Kane also housed Grade 9s.
"SAPEC was for all PE teachers in all schools and soon became a professional council to serve the needs of uniting schools on topics of PE curriculum, public relations and organization of athletics," said Scott, who retired in June after 40 years of teaching but still helps out as a substitute teacher at Lorne Akins. "The high schools already had strong ASAA (Alberta Schools' Athletic Association) support to organize their sports for the North Central zone, northern Alberta and provincials but the grade three to nine groups from both school districts (at the time) required help to organize athletic competitions and serve as a liaison among the districts and among all the sporting bodies that served school program needs."
Pearn was the first chairman and Judy Wood (Albert Lacombe) was vice-chair. Bouwmeester served as the secretary, Barry Richardson (Albert Lacombe) was the elementary committee chair and Mel Bosch (Father Jan) and Barrie Findlater (Lorne Akins) were the administration reps.
Discussions surrounded the following topics at the initial meeting:
• Importance of the curricular role of the council.
• Need for professional development in class/coaching and refereeing.
• Organization of junior leagues for Grade 7 and Grade 8 students.
• Establishing elementary competitions in volleyball and basketball in the form of exhibition games with a non-competitive format.
• Striving for excellence should take precedence over striving for competitiveness to promote interest and enthusiasm.
"For the most, the group has served as an organizing and liaison body among schools, the city, officials and other related sporting and physical education groups like HPEC (Health and Physical Education Council of the ATA)," Scott said. "At times questions of eligibility, complaints, rule changes and other disciplinary issues have occasionally had to be dealt with for junior high and elementary but for the most part organization of well run and exciting sports for the students are the main focus for SAPEC."
League structure
A modest four-team league structure in 1976 expanded as new schools were built to accommodate the growing population, resulting in heavier scheduling requirements. In 1977, St. Albert had become a city and the new facilities greatly improved student access to sport and recreation. Scott noted booking community facilities became a complex issue as the number of schools expanded and the relationship with St. Albert Community Services became vital to co-ordinating facility use, lining of fields and the booking of rinks, fields and the pool. School facilities were used by the community at night while schools used recreational spaces during the day. The joint use agreement became an important part of the school/city relationships as facilities expanded and the demand increased.
"The junior highs emerged as the group best served by SAPEC in the sense that co-ordination for athletics of all kinds was set up throughout the SAPEC administration structure," Scott added.
At the beginning, cross-country running, volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field were SAPEC staples. Wrestling and rugby tournaments are current fixtures while gymnastics, curling, orienteering, tennis, golf and other sports also operated under the SAPEC umbrella.
"One focus for SAPEC from the beginning was a need to organize quality tournaments and track meets and cross-country races for St. Albert students," said Scott. "People will recall the Old Dutch basketball tournament, the first of many quality events organized by St. Albert teachers for the benefit of local students."
SAPEC banners in junior high are awarded in cross-country, the first sport to receive a banner, as well as Tier 1 and Tier 2 girls' and boys' volleyball and basketball, plus badminton and track and field.
The council also hosts the Zone 5 track and field championship each year at Fowler Athletic Park but there is no banner awarded.
City finals
The annual Tier 1 city finals in volleyball at Bellerose Composite High School and basketball at the SkyDome are legendary for their excitement, fan and student support and athletic participation.
"The SAPEC tier one city finals in volleyball and basketball have grown over the years. I remember when I was coaching basketball at Lorne Akins in the '80s and we made it to city finals after a few years of losing out in the semifinals. It was such a big deal that we wanted to have lots of spectators and make it a big event. We got the whole school involved in making posters and had a great turnout," recalled Andrews (nee Smith), a St. Albert High alumna who student-taught at Lorne Akins and Paul Kane.
"We thought it was a big event at that time but it has taken on a life of its own and from that city finals in the '80s it has grown to be a bigger event than any of us could have imagined. The high schools have played a huge role in helping us make this event so successful. The students and staff at the high schools organize the event for the junior high finals and often it's a full house with standing room only to watch the games. Many former students who took part in this event themselves help organize the finals each year in volleyball and basketball.
"I have been at a lot of high school and even university and college sports over the years and nothing really compares to the atmosphere that has been created at our SAPEC junior high city finals. We try and make sure that the athletes who take part realize that this might be one of the most exciting events they will ever participate in. I never get tired of being at one of our junior high finals."
