With the most nominations in the history of the Recreation Leadership Award from Recreation Newfoundland and Labrador (RNL), College of the North Atlantic (CNA) Community and Therapeutic Recreation instructor Paul Lahey is this year’s winner after nearly 40 years supporting the growth and development of recreation in the province.
Lahey recently accepted the award at the RNL Provincial Awards Banquet, held in Grand Falls-Windsor, where he was also presented with the Honorary Membership Award for his service to the field.
“I’m humbled and so appreciative,” said Lahey. “The fact that I made a difference in this field to the hundreds of students I have had, it floors me. I am so grateful to them.”
With a career spanning more than two decades and a lifetime dedicated to community recreation, Lahey has made a lasting impact on the field and its future professionals.
From his early days at the Wabana Boys and Girls Club, to his 15 years as Executive Director of the Virginia Park Community Centre, and to his leadership in CNA classrooms, his work has helped shape programs, empower students, and strengthen communities across the province.
“Paul was very deserving of the RNL Leadership Award as he makes the transition into his retirement,” said Steve Martin, Executive Director, RNL. “His dedication, wisdom, and ability to connect with his students have not only left a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues, but the sector as a whole.”
“I know he will be missed, but I have a feeling his lifelong passion for recreation will continue in one form or another,” continued Martin. “I am wishing him all the best in this exciting new chapter—he’s truly earned it.”
Looking back on a lifetime of giving
Currents Magazine had the fortunate opportunity to speak with Paul Lahey to reflect on his career journey and to talk about what comes next for the celebrated instructor.
In his own words, here’s what he had to say.
Award Recognition & Impact
1. What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
Receiving this recognition has made me reflect on the many years of work I have completed in the recreation field. It has made me realize that hard work pays off, which is exactly what I preach to my students. It’s like a return on investment; the more you give to anything you do, the more it pays off. I’m so grateful to my students and graduates for looking at me in that way.
I’m also very thankful to Recreation Newfoundland & Labrador for this recognition. It means a lot, especially since I was told by the presenters that I had over 20 nominations from both students and practitioners in the field. I’m so grateful.
“the more you give to anything you do, the more it pays off.”
2. What do you think contributed most to you receiving this award?
I think it may be the fact that I’m retiring in two months, after serving 24 years in this role, and people are now realizing the impact I’ve had on so many students and graduates. To this day, I still get calls from many of them wanting to catch up for a coffee or seeking advice in the field. I feel that when folks heard I was retiring, it made them stop—because we all lead such busy lives—and think back to their time in the program and how impactful it was. I believe people took the time to show me their appreciation.
To learn that I had more nominations than had ever been received from people all over the province—when normally it’s just one nomination per person—blew my mind. It made me realize the impact I may have had on their lives, and I am so grateful.
3. Can you share a moment in your career when you really felt the impact of your work?
One moment that really stood out was just recently, when we finished up the last day of classes and students completed their final exam this past month. This semester brought everything together for me. As students finished their exam, they walked to the front, hugged me, and thanked me. Some had tears. That evening, they took me out to dinner and presented me with a scrapbook binder. Each page contained a personal letter from a student expressing their gratitude and how much I had impacted their life, along with a photo of them on the same sheet. This was done by all 15 students.
It was very moving for me and made me realize the impact I have had on their lives. Before that moment, I was just doing what I was lucky enough to do—teach, motivate, and inspire people to give their best. I shared the scrapbook with my wife, and she said she could only read two or three letters at a time because it was so overwhelming.
“It made me realize the impact I may have had on their lives.”
Professional Journey & Philosophy
4. What inspired you to pursue a career in Community and Therapeutic Recreation?
As a child, I was always involved in sport and community, and I feel my journey started with the Wabana Boys and Girls Club on Bell Island at the age of five. I started my first job there at age 16, continued with various employment opportunities at the Boys and Girls Club, and knew even back then that I wanted to do recreation.
I attended the College of Trades and Technology (which later became CNA) and completed the very same program I now teach in. From there I moved on to work in the field—with organizations like the City of St. John’s, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the YM-YWCA. I eventually became Executive Director of the Virginia Park Community Centre, a role I held for 15 years.
Because of my work in that position, I was asked by the then-instructor of the Community Recreation Leadership program, Ben Dunne (now deceased), to come to the college to cover a section of his coursework centered around grants and proposals. I did this for a number of years and felt then that this could be my calling, as I felt very comfortable in the classroom instructing and working with post-secondary students. Then came the opportunity for a teaching position. The rest is history.
5. How has your approach evolved over the years?
Many years ago, our field was about play, sports, and young people. It has evolved into much more than that. We have a growing aging population in Newfoundland and Labrador, and that became evident. People were retiring younger, family sizes were getting smaller, and the need to stay active and provide services for aging populations and persons with disabilities came to the forefront.
The college motto many years ago was “moving with the times,” and I feel I was able to keep my fingers on the pulse because I had a strong connection to the field and where community needs were heading. As things evolved in the community, we broadened our perspective. I was able to bring that perspective into the classroom because I felt students needed to be up on current trends and opportunities. That’s what would separate them from students at other institutions training in similar fields and would make our students more equipped to do the work that was required.
6. What do you find most rewarding about your work?
Meeting the students on the first day of their first year, trying to determine why they joined, and watching their uncertainty about what they want to do. Then, after two years of work and opportunity, witnessing the transformation in their confidence, ability, and drive that enables them to become employed—most of them very successfully, even before they graduate. At that moment, I knew we had done well and did what we were supposed to.
It’s our job to guide, support, and educate students, and to provide the support needed to get them to where they want to be. When that happens, it’s the most rewarding thing.
7. Are there any individuals—clients, students, or mentors—who’ve had a lasting impact on you in your career?
First and foremost, my wife Tammy, who has always been at my side supporting what I do—whether it’s grading papers late at night, taking calls and meetings after hours, serving on committees and boards, or going away with students for two- to three-day camps. She supported me every inch of the way. She always supported my passion for this work and always provided encouragement to continue doing what I do.
I also have to mention my two daughters, Lesley-Marie and Jillian. They’ve known the field I was in and became part of my journey along the way. Still today, they are very supportive of everything I do, and I hope I’ve instilled the same principles of giving and hard work in them.
I’ve met a lot of people on my journey, and many have contributed to my success. But I believe it’s all about where you start and the impression someone gives you that helps you realize you have something to offer—that you can make a difference and create change. Jim Hearn was the Executive Director of the Wabana Boys and Girls Club on Bell Island. From the age of five, he was an inspiration to me—to do the very best I can and be the very best at every challenge I encountered. He hired me at age 16 to work there, and his mentorship during those couple of years had a lasting impression. I feel it led me to the next step and eventually to choosing this field as my passion. The impact he had on me at a young age started my journey.
Lastly, it has to be my students—the ones who, if they didn’t exist, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. Watching them come in with such an eagerness to learn, to be inspired, and the need to do their best—and then watching them graduate and move into meaningful careers in the field—has been incredible.
Some even became colleagues. Two of my graduates, Laura King (2010) and Meghan Clarke (2011), completed our program, pursued further education, worked in the field, and are now my co-workers and faculty members in the new Community & Therapeutic Recreation program. They took the path, and now they are by my side as faculty. So many folks along the way provided inspiration, confirmation, and a drive in me to keep doing more.
“I’ve met a lot of people on my journey and many have contributed to my success.”
Role as an Instructor
8. How do you bring your professional experience into the classroom at CNA?
As a professional in the field, I was responsible for the operation of a non-profit organization under a board of directors. These responsibilities covered everything that can be found in a community organization—managing a building, hiring and supervising staff, addressing the needs of residents, managing finances, operating under a board, and working with so many different people from the community and all levels of government.
That led to me being asked to assist with course delivery in the Community Recreation Leadership program. Through that experience, I realized I could do this—and maybe even be good at it. I take my experiences with the work, the challenges and successes, and the many people I worked with and for, and I carved out a plan to make it work for the students who entered our program.
9. What do you hope your students take away from the Community and Therapeutic Recreation program at CNA?
I always ask my students at the end of their two-year journey in our program, “What did you learn this past year?” Some answer by reciting some of the theory and course content, but many say, “I’ve learned to be a leader. I’ve learned a whole new way of thinking about how to tackle programs.” I’ve told students time and time again that we are problem solvers. We identify the issues in a community and use recreation, wellness, physical activity, and togetherness as tools to solve those problems. That is the message I want them to understand.
We are not simply running an activity in the community; we are problem solvers. We bring people together and elevate them to a place where they feel happy, fulfilled, and transformed by the experience we provide them with. One takeaway that I always preach is that “good” isn’t good enough. Always give 100% of your effort to everything you do, and success will follow.
“give 100% to everything you do and success will follow.”
10. What makes this program unique or special, in your view?
This program brings in students from all walks of life, different backgrounds, and different cultures. Over the course of two years, we help them work toward a common goal—to serve the many different sectors of our field. We create leaders and help students forge a unique way to understand their communities.
We encourage them to immerse themselves in the lives of others and create change. This is done through lectures, labs, community work, and exposure to every resource we can access. We mentor each individual to find their own vision of where they see their destiny. That is what I feel makes our program unique and different from any other training in our field.
We may have a class of up to 25 students, but in my mind, we have 25 completely different individuals, each with a unique background and a different way of understanding. I believe we need to use that perspective to ensure everyone achieves success based on their own style of learning. It’s our job to do that for every student.
Field & Future
11. How do you see the field of Community and Therapeutic Recreation changing in the next few years?
I feel that this program, which originally included many sports-focused courses, has evolved over time—first into community recreation, and more recently into a focus on therapeutic recreation. I believe the term “therapeutic” has grown to mean more than just working with persons with disabilities or those in long-term care.
It has expanded to include the entire community—all those whom we are blessed to serve. That includes individuals who need comfort, those suffering from mental health and addiction issues, people who feel alone or without purpose, and those who simply need to be involved, healthy, and active. We cover so much more than we ever did. We are everything that is found in a community. We identify needs, create solutions, and provide services to all sectors of the population, from birth to death.
12. What advice would you give to students or new professionals entering this field?
That’s an easy one: give everything you have. Never settle for “no.” Never give up. Always give 100% and be there for the end result. Set goals and take the necessary steps to reach those goals, not just for yourself, but also for the individuals you serve.
“Never settle for no. Never give up.”
13. What excites you most about the future of community and therapeutic recreation in Newfoundland and Labrador?
The energy I see in students when they finish their final exam of the final semester excites me. They have such eagerness to get a job in the field. The look on their faces at graduation, as they celebrate their achievements and feel motivated to get out there and take their place, is something special.
I’m also excited by the realization that our society is beginning to recognize the importance of community wellness, the recreation sector, and the essential role recreation plays in communities. People are acknowledging that our communities need more resources, and that recognition is leading to the creation of new and well-paying jobs.
COVID really opened people’s eyes. Families couldn’t enter nursing homes, so the recreation staff became their families. Advertising for retirement homes is now full of images and stories about the fun of living there, largely because of the recreation opportunities they offer. We see massive fundraisers led by organizations like Special Olympics and Easter Seals, all centered around recreation and wellness for their clients. Municipalities are recognizing the value of creating winter carnivals and summer festivals, which bring out hundreds of community members and truly bring people together.
There’s a bright future for students entering our program. We’ve existed since 1974, and for over 50 years, we’ve remained one of the most sought-after programs, with a waiting list every year. That says a lot about how meaningful and relevant this field is.
“There’s a bright future for students entering our program.”
Personal Connection & Perspective
14. Outside of work, what kinds of recreational activities do you personally enjoy?
I’m a very active person. From my many years of serving on local, provincial, and national boards, I’ve always had a passion for working with people to help move their agendas forward—and I still do today. Currently, I volunteer as a Functional Area Supervisor with the Canada Games.
When I completed my Master of Education degree some years ago, I decided to do something for myself, so I joined Mount Pearl Martial Arts. After serving in that for close to 12 years, I earned my black belt—something I had always been passionate about and really enjoyed. I continued on for several years after that, helping younger students achieve their goals in the martial arts field.
I also enjoy spending time at my cabin and doing daily outdoor activities such as hiking, ATV runs, and cook-ups. I go to the gym regularly, as I believe staying active keeps you young and healthy—mentally and physically—in so many ways. As my wife Tammy always says, “Motion is lotion!”
Teach, motivate, and inspire—leaving his mark
Paul Lahey may be stepping out of the classroom, but his presence will continue to be felt in the lasting impressions he has made.
His influence shows in the many graduates who continue to seek his guidance, and in the overwhelming number of nominations that led to his recent award win.
By instilling hard work, teaching the principle of giving, and preaching the benefits of never giving up to his students, Paul Lahey has imparted the pillars of their profession—principles they can carry with them now and into the future.
