#WomensHistoryMonth with Kerry Boileau

Kerry Boileau has worn many hats in the world of sport over the years.

As a child, she very quickly got acquainted with the versatility and opportunities within sport. Soccer and wrestling quickly moved to the forefront in her high school years as she entered competitions and focused on developing her skills.

After her last wrestling competition in 1998, Kerry shifted her focus to career and other facets of life: now, as a mom of three kids, her involvement in sport consists of coaching. Over the last fifteen years, she supported and assisted with soccer, track and field, and cross country running.

Once two of her kids expressed interest in wrestling, Kerry saw an opportunity. As a resident in Bella Coola, a small remote community on the Central Coast, there were no wrestling coaches, programs, or teams. “After much begging and pleading from my daughter, I agreed to build a school program for a trial year and get myself back up to speed,” says Kerry. “After working with my daughter, I built the confidence back up. However, the travel distances, logistics, and expenses required to attend training programs and network were a constant challenge.”

Kerry ended up receiving a grant from the Northern BC Coaching and Officiating Fund near the end of 2023. With help from funding, she was able to not only gain access to hands-on training and networking opportunities, but her newly-acquired skillset helped her further develop her school program as a coach.

“Coaching means opening doors to a world of opportunities for the youth of my small community,” says Kerry. “I had so many amazing coaches growing up. I feel like it’s so important to return the favour as a female leader.”

When she’s not advancing community sport, Kerry likes to get involved in her children’s sporting journeys. At the recent BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge, Kerry worked as an assistant coach on the wrestling team and helped coach her daughter. Seeing her daughter thrive in her sport brought back fond memories. “It’s inspiring to see the next generation of girls and women in sport,” says Kerry.

Being a woman in sport means many things to Kerry. “As an athlete, being a woman in sport means showcasing resilience and competing with confidence, being a role model, and leading by example. As a coach, it entails mentoring and inspiring others and leveraging her own experiences,” she says. “Now, as a parent, it involves balancing family responsibilities with sport commitments. I’m modelling dedication and perseverance and supporting my children’s involvement in sports.”

To Kerry, the future in sport is bright. Through seeing her daughter thrive, as well as the other kids she coaches, she has seen the ways that sports have impacted the next generation. “To all the girls and women who are looking to get started in sports, please believe in your potential,” she says. “Every great athlete had to start as a beginner.”