News Article

Making his mark


6/3/2008 1:43:47 PM


Mike Adam, the 2006 gold-medal curling Olympian, is the new program coordinator for the Town of Labrador City. Pam Morrissey photo

Written by Pam Morrissey
The Aurora

Mike Adam has returned home to lead programming at the Labrador City Recreation Department.

The 2006 gold-medal curling Olympian first learned of the program co-ordinator opening at the Town of Labrador City when a friend e-mailed him the job ad. After thinking long and hard about possibly moving back to his hometown, Adam e-mailed his resume and hoped for the best.

"In the fall of 2006, I started the Community Recreation Leadership Program at the College of the North Atlantic (in St. John's)," he explained what he did before moving to Lab. City. "It was a two-year program. I finished in April."

He went to Florida on vacation the day after his final exam and while he was there, Adam Smith, recreation director, called and offered him the program coordinator job.

A little over a week later, he was on his way home.

"Throughout my program I did a lot of work with recreation programs with heavy emphasis on seniors and making recreation accessible," he pointed out his qualifications. "There was a special event component as well; we held a number of different events for various age groups, so I think my combination of school and experience will give me the start I need to do a good job."

Adam never imagined his travels would bring him full circle, but he's happy to be home and wants to make his mark in sports and recreation in Lab. City.

He feels the recreation field is where his true passion lies and even though he found it hard to walk away from curling at the elite level shortly after the Torino Olympics, he's glad he took the opportunity to make education his priority and get on with his real life.

"I wouldn't have minded playing for another year, but the changes that were made on the (Gushue) team allowed me to make an easier transition into making my education a priority," he stated. "There's no doubt curling was my No. 1 priority, but post-Olympics I realized I needed to get an education clewed up and now here I am."

Adam said he's glad to be back in Lab. City rediscovering what the town has to offer and he's been spending his first few days in the job, becoming familiar with the program coordinator position and what it entails.

He wants to fine-tune the programs and address gaps and also wants to make recreation accessible to seniors, people with disabilities, youth and adults.

"I'm not going to create programs and hope the public likes them," he said. "I'm going to try to figure out what the public wants and implement it. We're here to cater to them, so by all means send me your suggestions. I want to hear from as many groups and people as possible."

The Relay for Life, he noted, is the first big event under his direction, but he feels he's come in too late to make any meaningful contribution to the process - most of the legwork is done - so his first project from beginning to end will be Canada Day.

He pointed out it's a little ironic July 1 will be his first big hoorah, but he feels up to the challenge and plans to make it a great event this year.

"I love Canada Day and I've always had a good time at it, so I'm looking forward to putting off a good Canada Day Celebration here," he stated with a smile. "I hope it's one everyone will enjoy and I'll work hard to make it the best ever."

In the meantime, he said his office door is always open and he hopes to provide as many recreation opportunities for the Town of Labrador City as he possibly can.

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Printed with permission from The Aurora