In a few short years Marshall Corbett has become a pillar of Jasper鈥檚 sporting community, from coaching volleyball to establishing the high school鈥檚 first rugby club.
Corbett arrived in Jasper in September 2010, accepting a full-time position teaching shop at Jasper Junior/Senior High School (JJSHS). However, after six years Corbett and his family are packing up and moving west to Kelowna, his hometown.
鈥淭he main reason we鈥檙e leaving is to be closer to family. I鈥檓 ready to go back home. We鈥檙e a young family and that鈥檚 just what happens sometimes,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes you just want to go home.鈥�
When Corbett arrived in 2010, Jasper鈥檚 rugby scene was non-existent. As an avid player of the sport, Corbett seized the opportunity and became the director of the Jasper Cougars Rugby Club.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 going to be the hardest to leave,鈥� Corbett said, reflecting on his time teaching students how to play rugby.
鈥淲hen I first came to Jasper and I was interviewing for my current teaching position the first question I asked was if there was a rugby program. The answer was 鈥榥o鈥� and my response was if I get hired then there will be,鈥� Corbett said at the club鈥檚 awards gala last year.
The sport鈥檚 popularity didn鈥檛 take off right away, but Corbett persisted. Finally in 2014 enough boys signed up to field a full team. In 2015, Corbett conquered his next feat, getting enough girls together to form the school鈥檚 first female rugby team. In the next few years the club continued to flourish with more than 60 players and four teams.
鈥淚鈥檓 confident the club will be left in good hands,鈥� Corbett said. 鈥淚 loved my time here in Jasper and teaching here. The staff was amazing and the kids are really great and a lot of fun, but I鈥檓 also really excited to be going home and to be back with my family.鈥�
Once settled, Corbett will start his new teaching gig at a high school in Kelowna.
鈥淚n a small town you really get to make a connection with the kids. You have them in multiple classes through the years and you watch them grow up from the time they鈥檙e in Grade 7 to the time they graduate, and as a teacher you like to believe that you had a little part in shaping them,鈥� Corbett said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 going to be a little different going into a big high school.
鈥淚鈥檝e become quite comfortable in this job which is awesome, but I鈥檓 looking forward to this new challenge.鈥�
Kayla Byrne
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