41073718•05/25/12
Zakk Morrison 36
a lot of great people here,” a humbled Morrison says. “To be bestowed the honour is pretty significant because the competition is pretty steep.”
But while his efforts at the office have been recognized from within, it’s what Morrison extends to the community that has earned so much respect since several years ago when he accidentally found a life in Medicine Hat. Morrison had been part of the road crew for a woman who was travelling cross-country on rollerblades, raising money for cancer at the time.
“We stumbled upon Medicine Hat and I thought it looked like a neat place to live,” he remembers. “A year later I came back and started at the Medicine Hat College, enrolled in the fitness and leadership diploma program. My interests are in physical activity, exercise, health and wellbeing.
“Keeping our bodies healthy is important because we want to use them as long as we possibly can.”
Apparently, Zakk Morrison’s peers hold him in pretty high regard.
Of four major awards handed out to staff at Medicine Hat College, Morrison recently received the one with the nicest tone ring to it — Employee of the Year. As the coordinator of Sport and Wellness Resources at the Alberta Sport Development Centre, the 36-year-old received the award for dedication to his work and a job well done.
But if you ask him, he’ll tell you about several others who could have easily earned the honour as well.
“If you know this college, you know there are
A stint in Edmonton at the University of Alberta earned him a BS in kinesiology, and soon after a position became available at MHC. That was in 2002 and it’s the same role he holds today.
“Encouraging and supporting self- responsibility of Albertans to live physically active lifestyles,” says Morrison of his job description. “So it is very health-promotion based. Some people with degrees in kinesiology go into rehab, where when something goes (physically) wrong, you call them.
“I’m sort of the other camp; I’m trying to keep people healthy.”
One of the more popular promotional events Morrison oversees is the annual spring Rattler Run. The event attracts an array of athletes and age groups competing in 3-, 5- and 10-kilometre races, and seemingly gains popularity each year.
And though it’s a race, with official times, leaders and medal presentations, the core purpose of the Rattler Run makes everyone a winner and that’s what gives it so much life.
“(The Rattler Run) is just part of that message; get out there, get active and live a healthy lifestyle,” he adds. “The benefits are just endless. There’s no pill you can pop, there’s nothing else you can do that will give you that range of benefits, except regular physical activity.”
While the Rattler Run is an event he inherited, Strive Magazine, a biannual publication featuring players, sports and health and wellness discussion within southeastern Alberta, was Morrison’s brainchild. Its seventh edition hit the stands back in January.
“Strive Magazine was an idea I had and I took it to a couple of colleagues to see if they thought it had some substance. They loved the idea as well so we published the first issue in November/December of 2008.
“The purpose of Strive is to celebrate new successes in sport.”
It took less than a year from the moment the light bulb switched on in his head to the publication of the first issue, a testament to the dedication Morrison has for his field of work, and the city in which he does it.
“This is my family right here; MHC and this community.”
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