RADAR | THE LOCALER
How a University of PEI Staff Member Is Building a Legacy of Sport and Service
From championship rinks to community partnerships, Bruce Donaldson measures his success by the lasting connections with his athletes.
By Dick Snyder
For Bruce Donaldson, sport is a place where community happens. It’s also his passion. In his role as the sponsorship and strategic partnerships officer for University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) Athletics and Recreation. Donaldson’s abiding focus is on advancing collegiate sports, building corporate partnerships and hosting national events. His impact extends far beyond the campus. Named Volunteer of the Year by Sport Tourism Canada for his leadership during the 2023 Canada Winter Games, which featured 150 events across 20 winter sports, he is a tireless advocate for civic engagement. “Volunteering expands a community’s capacity and fosters a culture of care and service,” he says. Across a storied career — including coaching his daughter to a historic Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Women’s Hockey Championship in 2012 — Donaldson is incredibly grateful for the bond he shares with his athletes.
“Volunteering expands a community's capacity and fosters a culture of care and service.”
During his 16 years as head coach of the UPEI women’s hockey team, he always left graduating players with two specific requests. “Remember the program and give back,” he would advise them. “And if the coaching team contributed to a positive experience, please invite me to your wedding.” To date, he has attended 48. “This,” says Donaldson, “is what I’m most proud of.”
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? We’d love to hear about them. Email us your nominations, and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.
Bruce Donaldson is a legendary coach at UPEI. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF CODY MACKAY
RADAR | PLAYLIST
What Songs Do You Road Trip to, Rachel Cousins?
By Kim Hughes
Singer-songwriter Rachel Cousins is from St. John’s. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF HILDA COUSINS
At just 25, St. John’s singer-songwriter Rachel Cousins is already four albums and many awards and accolades deep into a career destined for global glory. Her latest, What Hasn’t Killed Me, sets Cousins’ crystalline voice against a sterling set of folk-pop tunes as bracing as they are intimate. No surprise, then, that the songs Cousins cruises to are eclectic. “I love a road trip because it gives me a chance to turn a playlist on shuffle and bring up some old goodies or new songs I’ve just added,” she says. “Driving to music is very therapeutic to me. Though my mind is always full, hitting the highway and just taking in the sensory while listening to a good tune seems to turn off [my mind] a little bit.”
We are providing a preview of the artist’s playlist. The full playlist can be experienced directly on Spotify with a free account. Songs may not be appropriate for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.
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Bruce Donaldson is a legendary coach at UPEI. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF CODY MACKAY
For Bruce Donaldson, sport is a place where community happens. It’s also his passion. In his role as the sponsorship and strategic partnerships officer for University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) Athletics and Recreation. Donaldson’s abiding focus is on advancing collegiate sports, building corporate partnerships and hosting national events. His impact extends far beyond the campus. Named Volunteer of the Year by Sport Tourism Canada for his leadership during the 2023 Canada Winter Games, which featured 150 events across 20 winter sports, he is a tireless advocate for civic engagement. “Volunteering expands a community’s capacity and fosters a culture of care and service,” he says. Across a storied career — including coaching his daughter to a historic Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Women’s Hockey Championship in 2012 — Donaldson is incredibly grateful for the bond he shares with his athletes.
“Volunteering expands a community's capacity and fosters a culture of care and service.”
During his 16 years as head coach of the UPEI women’s hockey team, he always left graduating players with two specific requests. “Remember the program and give back,” he would advise them. “And if the coaching team contributed to a positive experience, please invite me to your wedding.” To date, he has attended 48. “This,” says Donaldson, “is what I’m most proud of.”
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? We’d love to hear about them. Email us your nominations, and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.