Shalen Fox is more than just a coach and Indigenous Student Advocate at Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon; he is a facilitator for youth achievement. Although, in his eyes, that achievement is not about athletes just claiming medals, it’s about Indigenous athletes reaching success in all areas of life while learning valuable lessons through participation in sport.

“Sport teaches us so many things in life; accountability, consistency, courage, vulnerability,” shared Fox. “It’s a confidence thing that is bringing [athletes] a little bit higher. It’s more than just sport now, it’s mental health, it’s building confidence, it’s planting seeds, it’s [athletes] turning into future coaches.”

But Fox’s mindset wasn’t always this way. He admits that at the beginning of his coaching career, he was chasing a provincial title, which sometimes meant that not everyone was put in.

Albeit six years ago, that all shifted during a basketball game in North Battleford, where Fox coached at the time. While standing on the sidelines, he looked into the bleachers and realized that he didn’t know how many athletes had family members watching the game and were disappointed that they didn’t get to see them play.

Since that game, Fox now rotates the athletes onto the court equally, so every individual has a chance to contribute to the team. He also finds this approach coincides with their skill development.

“Them playing is how they’re going to learn. As great as it is that we all want to become the NHL player, the NBA basketball star, the volleyball star, it’s a very small window. And in Saskatchewan it’s probably an even smaller window and I’m not trying to crush peoples’ goals or dreams, but I just want them to play and enjoy it. Just be a kid.”

His unique approach to coaching does not go unnoticed. According to Fox, he has had parents of the opposing team approach him and mention how much fun they seem to have.

For Fox, it is all about offering the athletes the opportunity to participate since they may not otherwise receive that outside of school-sanctioned sport.

“We have athletic kids here; they just don’t have the organized opportunities and those are the moments where I can just sit back and watch them enjoy. They don’t have to worry about if they are going to get in, it’s wondering when they are going to get in.”

Getting his athletes into the game also correlates with Fox wanting to support their mental health and wellbeing, believing that sport allows individuals to express their emotions in a healthy and controlled manner.

And even beyond sport, Fox is there to get to know and support his athletes and students in all areas of their lives.

“Those are the moments that you actually get to learn our kids outside of the hallways and you get to see the passion that they have and the drive and the love,” said Fox.

Showcasing A Day in the Life of a Student-Athlete

His connection with the students at Bedford Road is palpable as he high-fives and checks in with everyone he passes, because to Fox, their success both on and off the field of play, is his.

So, in pursuit of that success, when an opportunity to partner with the University of Saskatchewan came forward to have a group come experience a ‘Day in the Life’ of a student-athlete, he eagerly accepted.

“I wanted to have Indigenous role models from the community in different walks of life, from sport to entrepreneur, teacher, electrician, all sorts of people who made it to where they are today. And I love how we can have our NHL stars who are Indigenous, but our kids don’t relate to them as much because that is another level that is there. But our kids can relate to our local role models who struggled to get to where they are, because we all have our struggles. That brings in the resilience piece.”

The program offered students insight to what it takes to get to that level of sport, in addition to the academic side. Throughout the day, Huskie athletes took Bedford’s students to different arenas, courts and changerooms so they could gain a sense of what it’s like to participate in university sports such as hockey, volleyball and basketball.

According to Fox, the purpose of the program is to show Indigenous youth that they can go into these spaces and thrive. He shared that there were students who never really saw themselves at university or even some who had never even been on campus, so it was him bringing that opportunity forward.

“For them to step foot on [the university campus] with a group of Indigenous kids and our staff that attend, [it shows them] that you can be here, you can do this. And that is why school is so important, those are the moments where it shows that’s why math is so important, that is why English is so important.”

From supporting his athletes at tournaments and in the classroom, to opening doors to their future beyond the halls of Bedford Road, Fox acknowledges how fortunate he is to have a role in building their confidence and dreams. He wants his athletes to know that they are meant for greatness, however that may look for them.

“That is what sport does for me with the kids. It’s not as much about the sport as it was, it’s giving our kids opportunities and seeds.”