Provided by the Michelle Vandale Memorial Spirit of Winter Ringette Tournament Committee and the Fraser Valley Ringette Association for ringette players, coaches, on-ice officials, volunteers, and/or executive members
Applications must be received by the Fraser Valley Ringette Association
NO LATER THAN: November 22nd
PURPOSE OF THE BILL BETTLES VOLUNTEERISM SCHOLARSHIP
To provide annually a scholarship of $500 towards post-secondary education for ringette players, coaches, executive members, volunteers, and/or officials who demonstrate strong academic performance, a sustained strong commitment to the sport of ringette, and who emulate the passion and dedication that Bill Bettles had for his community by actively volunteering in sport or community.
In addition to the financial award, recipients will receive a scholarship award certificate and have their name on a perpectual plaque displayed in one of the Langley area ice arenas.
Bill Bettles was a builder of community sports who had a special passion for helping female athletes realize their dreams. Mr. Bettles, a father of three girls, was involved in ringette, girls ice hockey, and softball in Langley, Aldergrove, and the Fraser Valley for three decades.
During his three years as the Township of Langley’s Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Mr. Bettles was instrumental in helping raise funds to develop a lighted park for the Aldergrove Men’s Fast Pitch League. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Bettles became the President of the Aldergrove Ringette Association, where he served for five years, overseeing Aldergrove Ringette’s amalgamation with the Langley Ringette Association to become the Fraser Valley Ringette Association. In 1988, he helped start the Lower Mainland Ringette League where he worked closely with the AA ringette program and acted as team manager for many years. Mr. Bettles was also a coach and administrator with the Langley Girls’ Fast Pitch Association and founder of the first ice hockey association for female athletes in Langley in 1995, the Langley Girls’ Ice Hockey Association, and he served as its first President.
In 2009, believing that women athletes should not have to pay thousands to play a competitive sport, Mr. Bettles started and served as General Manager of the National Ringette League’s British Columbia entry — the Fraser Valley Avalanche. This initiative became Canada’s first fully-funded ringette program, with athletes’ travel and team fees fully covered.
Mr. Bettles was inspired to endow the Fraser Valley Ringette Association’s Michelle Vandale Memorial annual scholarship award in memory of Michelle Vandale who was a tireless volunteer, athlete, coach and ringette enthusiast of the Fraser Valley Ringette Association. The Bettles family continues to support the fund and participates in scholarship committee selections annually.
In 2011, Bill Bettles was the recipient of a Community Sport Builder Award from Pacific Sport Fraser Valley for his many accomplishments and contributions to amateur sports.
Applications must be received by the Fraser Valley Ringette Association NO LATER THAN:November 22nd