Marilyn Snedden

50 Years of Volunteering & Still Going Strong

Sports have always been an important part of Marilyn Snedden’s life. Growing up she participated in school and community sports and this participation continued into her adult life. While raising her children in Lethbridge she became involved in the volunteer aspect of sport and because of her efforts in many sports she was inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame. Marilyn moved back into our community in 1989 and since then she has maintained her interest and volunteering in various sporting organizations. It is because of her volunteer undertakings in our community that Marilyn is being inducted as a Builder into the Wetaskiwin & County Sports Hall of Fame.

Instrumental as a Builder Wherever she Lived

Marilyn grew up in the Pipestone and Millet communities and played softball, volleyball, broomball and participated in track & field. She played softball for Pipestone Elementary School and then as a teenager, played for a Millet Women’s Team and developed a life-long love and passion for the game. When she lived in Lethbridge she played in the Lethbridge Ladies Softball League. Marilyn was instrumental in starting the Lethbridge Ladies Saints Hockey Team and was an active team member. It was in Lethbridge that she started coaching softball and became involved in the administrative facet of the game. She started the Lethbridge Minor Softball Association and coached both her sons. She served as President and Director for Lethbridge Ladies Softball League and managed teams. She also volunteered in the 1975 Lethbridge Canada Winter Games and served as Secretary for the Lethbridge Men’s Fastball League. Because of all of her involvement in Lethbridge sports she was inducted as a Builder into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

Dedicated to Creating Positive Experience for All

When Marilyn moved back to Millet in 1989 she immediately became involved with Millet sports. She served with the Millet Minor Softball Association, first as a Director and then as President. She also served on the Millet Recreation Board as a Board Member and Millet Rep for Central Alberta Recreation Association. Additionally, she represented Millet and Wetaskiwin Minor Softball Associations on the Wild Rose Softball League. Marilyn also found time to coach the Millet Bantam Girls Softball Team at Provincials in 1990. She also hosted a ringette clinic in Millet in order to introduce the game to local girls.

For over twenty-five years Marilyn has been involved in provincial softball playoffs in Zones 4 and 5. She has supervised the playing of dozens of Provincial Championships at every level in Millet, Wetaskiwin, Falun and Mulhurst. She has had the huge responsibility of organizing, planning and promoting league playoffs, zone playoffs and provincials. Marilyn has been responsible for implementing the policies and rules of the tournaments, interacting with each committee hosting the provincials, overseeing the facilities, managing the scheduling, keeping all stats as well as filling out evaluation forms after the events were concluded. Marilyn always created a positive tournament experience for the fans and participants, resolved any conflicts cordially and was able to establish an environment for positive morale with coaches, players, fans and umpires. She was great in assuring the flow of communication, not only with the team (players, parents and coaches), but the news media, visiting teams and Softball Alberta.

Softball Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 2004

As a Zone Rep for Softball Alberta Marilyn has attended their meetings, AGM and Awards Banquet each year. Marilyn served Softball Alberta as a Delegate, Governor and District Organizer. For her extensive involvement with Softball Alberta Marilyn was inducted as a Builder into Softball Alberta’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Additionally, in 2008 she received the prestigious Softball Alberta President’s Award for dedication and support to softball.

Marilyn was also on the bid committee when Wetaskiwin was successful in hosting the Alberta Summer Games in 1993. During the Games she volunteered the keep score for the baseball games. Marilyn also volunteered as a Coach, Manager or Sports Rep at fifteen Alberta Summer Games and five Winter Games. When the Western Softball Games were held in Strathmore in 2012, Marilyn volunteered to help out. She also volunteered at the Western Canada Slo-Pitch Western Canadian Championships in Wetaskiwin.

Softball Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 2004

Marilyn has been an avid supporter for Wetaskiwin Minor Hockey. She printed programs for tournaments from the “Tim Bits” to Midget levels. Because of her involvement with the Wetaskiwin Minor Hockey Association she received a plaque for “dedication and support” in 2015. She also served as Secretary for the Wetaskiwin Icemen Hockey Association for over twelve years. Besides secretary responsibilities, Marilyn designed and printed the programs and organized the office staff for every Icemen home game.

When the Alberta Special Olympics were held in Wetaskiwin in 2003, Marilyn worked on the Board as a Director and was in charge of transportation. Also, Marilyn has served as Secretary on the Board of the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame since its inception in 2005. She was a member of the founding group that set the standards and tone for our Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame annual event.

Marilyn Snedden has been a volunteer in sport from 1971 to 2020, almost fifty years! She has volunteered as a Coach, Manager, Zone Rep and Sports Rep in Softball, Ringette, Female Hockey, Male Softball/Fastpitch and Hockey throughout Alberta. She has also served as a Board Member for various sports organizations in our community. Because of her volunteer efforts she has already been inducted into two Sports Halls of Fame and received numerous certificates, plaques and awards for her volunteer involvement. You can expect to find Marilyn in the crowd at many sporting events, she is a “super sports fan”. Besides participating herself, Marilyn has encouraged and supported her children and grandchildren as they continue the family traditions she grew up with and passed on to her family. We applaud Marilyn’s involvement in our sporting community and are honoured to induct her into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.