Winston Watson has dedicated his life to teaching, coaching and mentoring youth.

Born in Sprucedale, Watson and his wife Martha, a Huntsville native, have three sons and five grandchildren. The couple spent a few years in Toronto before returning to Huntsville when he took the principal position at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School in 1987.

Watson enjoyed the post for a dozen years but has since retired. However, when asked to come back as a supply teacher, he jumped at the chance.

"I missed being in the classroom,” he says. “Watching the learning develop and having close contact with the students. I have a concept that teaching is an art. It’s a craft that you develop and there’s a reward because you have a chance to facilitate learning and interact with wonderful young people. We don’t open the doors; we get them there to turn the handle themselves.”

Watson fills in whenever needed at Huntsville High School, teaching chemistry, math, physics and biology classes. He values the opportunity to interact with young people and holds today’s youth in high esteem.

“I’m high on youth,” he says. “I’ve got this weird concept that being around young people keeps you young. I do respect and enjoy older people, but my favourite people are young people. Even though they can be frustrating and hard to understand.

“People are very critical of teenagers but I see a lot of good things in young people. They are more conscious of the environment and doing service for the community – that’s enjoyable to see.”

But he also sees it as a confusing time for youth.

“It’s a very challenging time for them, more so than we experienced because there’s so much change happening so quickly,” he says. “They’re faced with a lot of information – so much information with the Internet and rapid communication and TV. They have to figure out what it all means and whether this is the direction they want to go in.”

And the choices youth have before them run much deeper than what to band to listen to or what to wear.

“Dr. Suzuki was here (at Huntsville High School) talking about the global crisis we’re in … I guess what I’m thinking is: they have to make some value judgments. What’s going to be their role in society? Each has to make a choice. Do they want to be leaders? Do they want to assist? It’s a very exciting time for them, but very frustrating.”

He thinks back on what his generation has left as building blocks for the future.

“We haven’t always done the best thing for our society and we aren’t leaving them a clear path they can follow – they have to find their own and I think they’re doing a great job.”

He remains a staunch believer in looking on the good side.

“We hear the horror stories and we focus on them more than the successes,” he says.

At HHS, students call him Mr. Watson; it’s a sign of respect. But at the rink, he’s known as Winnie. A man in constant motion, Watson is a hockey referee and volunteer with the Huntsville Minor Hockey Association executive. To watch him in his black and whites on the ice is impressive. His focus is sharp and intense as he speeds across the ice. And he keeps the game organized, fair and by the book.

Port Sydney resident Laura Van Horne has three children who play hockey with the HMHA. She has seen Watson in action over the last decade.

“If you’re in hockey in Huntsville, you know Winston Watson,” says Van Horne. “He’s so involved in every facet of the community and I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody who doesn’t like him.”

And it’s likely if you’re a Huntsville player, Watson knows you as well.

“The biggest thing about Winston is that he really works with the kids,” says Van Horne. “He knows most of them by name and encourages them. I loved watching him with the little guys. When the tykes are out there he will stop everything to get them to stand in the right spot. When they’re 12 he encourages them to do timekeeping and when they’re 14 he encourages them to ref.”

“The novices are so much fun to watch,” says Watson. “They have no concept of winning and losing; they’re just out there for the fun of it. Some of the ones now who are major midgets, I’ve been watching them since they were peewees and have loved seeing what they’ve become. They just grow – there’s no design.”

Van Horne’s 17-year-old son Matt has been involved with the association for 10 years as a player. The Grade 12 student plays defence for Huntsville Midget AE, and is now a level two referee as well. Watson has mentored him throughout.

“He was the one I went through to get all the information,” says Matt. “He got me into it in the first place. He started me off with my equipment – I still use the shin pads he gave me the first time I refereed.”

Watson’s involvement has gained him a royal moniker from Matt.

“To Huntsville hockey he’s a symbol – he’s the king of refs,” says the teen. “Everyone knows him. He’s an amazing person, a super volunteer who thinks of everyone before himself. He’s a joy to be around because he’s funny and he’s nice.”

“He’s a presence at the hockey rink and such a positive influence on the kids,” says Laura. “A lot of the kids at the high school know him from his work as a supply teacher and as a tutor. He’s just always there.”

House league convener for a year and a half, when Laura needed a ref in a hurry, Watson was the man she called.

“When the young refs didn’t show up at 7:45 in the morning, I could call him and five minutes later Winston would be there,” she says. “You won’t find a ref, a player, a coach or anyone on the Huntsville hockey board who would say something bad about him. You can always get him if you have a problem, and he will always come for you; for him the kids come first.”

Watson is committed to Huntsville hockey and believes it’s an important part of this community.

“You learn about rules, about making a commitment to a team and to your fellow players,” says the popular referee. “It’s great character building for the kids to think, ‘We’ll give it our best and try to win, but we might not and that’s life.’ There are so many values from hockey that translate into life.

“What would all these young people do if they didn’t have hockey? We’ve got 480 young people playing from Huntsville and the surrounding area – there’s a lot of healthy activity taking place. And look at the friendships that are established. I look at my own children and they still have friends from their hockey days. They have friends they played with as peewees and friends from Huntsville hockey.”

Watson finds his role very rewarding.

“I do it because I enjoy the interaction with the players and I get the cardio benefit of being out there skating,” says Watson. “I know quite a few of the players well and it’s fun to watch them as they develop through the divisions. It’s a two way street. I contribute and get the rewards of watching people enjoying themselves and of knowing that young people are feeling, ‘I’ve got something in my life I can look forward to a few times a week.’”

These days, Watson and Martha take great pride in being grandparents.

“Oh, it’s exciting to be a grandpa,” says Watson. “When you have your own children, things go really quickly. With grandchildren you have more time to study them and be with them and it’s a magical, busy time. We try to figure out how we can help them fulfill their dreams.”

For her part, Martha is proud of her husband.

“He’s just a very generous and kind and giving guy,” she says. “Nothing’s too much trouble. If there’s a student at school who needs help, he’s there. He talks to the kids; he’s very enthusiastic and interested. It’s fun being around him because everything’s an adventure.”