Soldier Coach

(FREDERICTON, NB) In his first season as assistant coach with the UNB REDS women’s soccer team, Tom St. Onge has spent a lot of time away from the team.

That’s because Assistant Coach St. Onge is also Major Tom St. Onge, one of the leaders of the Canadian Forces’ reaction team deployed to parts of Newfoundland and Labrador ravaged by Hurricane Fiona.

“It was tough to see small communities devastated,” said St. Onge, of his initial observations. “Our initial efforts focused on bringing stability through our presence. Just showing up, a collective sense of relief could be felt.”

St. Onge, who returned home on Sunday, was commanding a unit made up of mostly reservists from Newfoundland and Labrador. In the initial days of their effort, that team numbered more than 150 women and men.

“In the days since being deployed, things have progressed tremendously,” said St. Onge. “What once looked like a hopeless situation is now seeing progress and momentum towards restoration and longer-term stability.”

“There’s a lot left to do, but things are moving in the right direction.”

St. Onge did his best to keep up with what the REDS were doing while he was away.

He checked in with head coach Jon Crossland regularly and was able to watch some of the team’s games on AUStv webcasts.

But his priority was the situation on the ground.

“Our team knocked on every door within two days to check on residents in the area,” he said. “We supported infrastructure assessments for provincial authorities, coordinated and supported with other agencies such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and led clean-up activities, in concert with municipalities.”

“We left a mark,” he added. “We offered a small contribution to what will be a long, difficult journey.”

St. Onge arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador less than 48 hours after Fiona’s devastating blow.

“Tom sent a message about a training plan in the morning, that afternoon he sent another that he was heading to Newfoundland that evening,” said REDS head coach Jon Crossland. “To have Tom play a leadership role in helping the people of the Port Aux Basques area, suffering the devastation from Fiona, makes us proud.”

“Commitment and impact are two key values in our program,” said Crossland. “Tom and his colleagues have demonstrated those qualities and more in answering the call and to go into the worst situation in some people’s lives and help in any way they can.”

Thankful to have made an impact in the recovery efforts in the Port Aux Basques area, St. Onge is happy to be home.

He’s looking forward to returning to the team, but remains poised, as always, to answer the call again, should it come.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS: Cpl. Braden Trudeau/Image Technician CAF Joint Task Force LENTUS