“Cathy consistently makes herself available for her peers and players, both on and off the field. She goes above and beyond everyday to make sure the players have the best experience possible, which is crucial to West Ottawa Soccer Club and its membership.” – Peter Loricchio, Administrative and Events Coordinator, West Ottawa Soccer Club

The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce that Cathy Briggs has been selected as the first Community Sport Hero of 2024. Cathy works with the West Ottawa Soccer Club, where she is the Club Head Coach for the U4-U7 age group, and the coordinator of the WeeWarriors program.

Cathy gives most of her time to West Ottawa Soccer, spending her weekdays in the office and her evenings and weekends on the field, coaching and providing a safe environment to learn to play the game.

Cathy is passionate about being a leader for a young generation of soccer players and says seeing young kids get excited about sport is one of her greatest joys.

“I love seeing them get something new and have their eyes light up. Trying to get them to fall in love with soccer is the main goal, and it’s something I get great personal satisfaction out of.”

She’s also proud of how far her impact as a mentor goes off the field.

“One of our main philosophies at West Ottawa Soccer is that we want our players to grow as a person, not just an athlete. It’s all about how they can become a better person. I think it’s even more important than playing the sport.”

Cathy’s impact as a coach and a mentor crosses so many generations, as several players that she coached from a young age have stayed with West Ottawa Soccer through their lives.

“I have watched kids that I coached at U4 come through our youth leadership program. They come in and are mentored by me, then they get to coach one of our WeeWarrior teams. We have a flourishing youth coach program.”

Cathy’s work creates a positive and healthy environment for young children to thrive on and off the field of play. Her work aligns with the values that the Ottawa Sport Council holds towards creating positive experiences in sport. The OSC is incredibly grateful for the contributions that Cathy has made to the Ottawa Sport Community.