CJFL: Calgary Colts Dustin Whetton wins Past Commissioners Community Service Award

The Canadian Junior Football League is proud to announce the 2011 recipient of the Past Commissioners Community Service Award. This award is given annually to an outstanding young man playing football for a CJFL team as well as contributing to his community.

“The Canadian Junior Football League provides the opportunity for young men aged 17 to 22 to participate in highly competitive post-high school football that is unique in Canada. The goal of the league is to foster community involvement and yield a positive environment by teaching discipline, perseverance and cooperation. The benefits of the league are strong camaraderie, national competition and life-long friends.”

CJFL Past Commissioner Ron Osterkampf will present Dustin Whetton of the Calgary Colts with the Past Commissioners Award at the Jostens Banquet of Champions Friday November 11th in Hamilton Ontario.

At first when you meet this young man his smile and “go-getter attitude” captivate everyone around him. He describes his principal objective “as becoming an aide for children and families to serve a focus of keeping their families together”. Dustin is currently a Mount Royal University student in the Faculty of Child and Youth Care and counselling, he also completed two years in the Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary.

Dustin had a tough childhood being raised initially in Montreal then moving to Calgary the back to Montreal in the pan of several years. Due to family issues he was sent to several different group homes. Dustin tells the story of being a kid in Montreal who grew up as an “outcast”, the chubby kid who was always hanging around because of problems at home”. He didn’t speak a word of French and didn’t have a lot of friends. Rather than fall victim to circumstances, Dustin spent every waking moment trying to stay out of trouble by hanging out at a local community center and playing football. “I was paranoid as a kid, I had a lot of cousins who were in a lot of trouble so I did everything I could to avoid it. I’d get up, go to school, go to Sun youth and get home at 9 o’clock and go to sleep”. He began to see football as a strategy to get away from the world. Dustin’s life would take a positive change when he was adopted in grade 7, his new parents were from Africa and he had to deal with a new cultural background which he embraced.

This change in his life and the way he lived his life until then would have a positive outlook in Dustin’s life. Dustin acknowledges his parents for instilling in him the importance of family values, looking out for others needs and excelling in any endeavour he takes on. He has taken the life skills learned early and put them to good use in the community at large.

Dustin is an excellent athlete having participated in both basketball and football. He is currently a starting running back with the Colts. His coaches describe him as a player that brings an energy level to the field that raises the bar for all members of the team; his work ethic is an inspiration to all the other players. Coach Keith Kendall stated “His goals in life off the field include helping others out whenever the opportunity presents itself”.

Dustin also finds time to coach Senior Mens Football, Junior high school Basketball in Calgary.

“Dustin is a remarkable young man who has overcome obstacles early in his life to become a fine athlete but more importantly a true leader and agent for change in the community. It is hard to believe that a fellow of his age possesses so much joy, enthusiasm, leadership qualities and is giving of his time to create a positive environment in the community. Dustin’s time is spread throughout his participation in football, coaching endeavours, numerous volunteer activities and fundraising initiatives as you will see.

All those that come in contact with Dustin speak of his smile and upbeat attitude toward life not to mention his work ethic which he brings to everything he does both on/off the field.

Asked what message he would send to all players in the CJFL and this is what he stated “never give up on anything in life, be true to yourself and your beliefs. Keep working hard and success will follow.”

Dustin is a true ambassador for the CJFL and epitomizes the CJFL mission statement. I know Dustin will go on to be a fine leader in the community and an excellent mentor for the youth of our communities”, said Osterkampf.

Dustin’s volunteer work is spread over several different causes. He has freely given his time to help build housing with Habitat for Humanity, worked as a volunteer on the Forzani’s Mother’s Day Run. This year Dustin organized a fund raiser for Breast Cancer research called Pink October. He found sponsors to donate pink toques, wrist bands and gloves for his team mates to show solidarity for the cause. His funding raising efforts raised $6000 for research. Previously he organized another fund raiser for Cancer research called Light up the Night he did this because he had a friend whose mother had just survived two bouts with cancer. As you can see he did this not for himself but for others.

Dustin works part time at the Calgary Mustard Seed Transitional Housing Program working with homeless people. His duties include listening to people in crisis and providing recourses. Kelly McGregor of the Mustard Seed states “Dustin is full of passion and compassion”. He is full of joy and always encouraging others to better themselves. Dustin puts in 20 hrs. a week at the Young Life Program an outreach community program for kids. This is special to him as it is this type of program that he first became involved with growing up. He understands what it can do for the kids of today to have a place to come to where people want to help them in their lives.

Ultimately Dustin would like to set up his own outreach program to give back to those that helped throughout his life. He wants to be a mentor and teacher for the kids of our community. As Dustin stated” someone always looked out for him in his early years and now he wants others to know there will be someone to look for them in the future”.

Combining his accomplishments on the field and his extremely gratifying work in the community off the field Dustin is a very special young man and will become a true leader in the community if the future.