Born in 1946 in Windsor, Ontario, Sue was the eldest of four, two brothers and a sister. Sue participated in all sports that were available to girls in her growing up years. She was well known at Riverside High School for her prowess in a number of sports. Upon graduating high school, she attended the University of Western Ontario where she received a degree in Physical Health and Recreation Education in 1970. While there she participated on intercollegiate teams for field hockey, basketball, volleyball, archery, speed swimming, softball, and track and field. For her participation in Intercollegiate sports and organization of the Intramural Program at Western, Sue received the coveted White Blanket upon graduation.
Teaching swimming & examining both Red Cross and Royal Life Saving Society tests was a way to earn summer money. It also led Sue to consider teaching as a career.
Upon graduating from Western, Sue taught in Burlington and Dundas before moving to Parry Sound High School in 1978. As a department head, she taught physical education and health before she moved into Student Services for her final 4 years. While teaching she completed master’s degrees in education and counselling. During her tenure at PSHS she coached both boys and girls field hockey, indoor hockey, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Acting as an advisor to the Athletic Association, she encouraged leadership development in students.
Sue worked with peer counsellors to do some drug education in the elementary schools and to guide the PARTY SOUND program. These were a way to help Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth.
Many were the trips she made to take teams to tournaments that would give players more challenges and experience than were available within the district. She also became a regional coach for the Ontario field hockey team coaching both boys and girls teams in the provincial summer games. Sue made weekend trips to Toronto to play on a club field hockey team. This lasted well into her fifties. Her club won the National Masters Field Hockey championship in the 1990s.
At all times in sports and beyond, Sue was committed to sportsmanlike conduct, team building, kindness and listening. She was invited to teach at the Ontario Secondary Athletic Leadership Centre and did so for 8 years during her teaching career. Sue says she likes people and likes to see them active and involved. With students especially, she wanted to see them succeed and build confidence and self esteem.
Sue retired from teaching at Parry Sound in June 2000. She has maintained friendships with many of the men and women on her teams over these many years.
Since retirement, Sue has been very involved with the Rotary Club. As a way to raise money for the new hospital, she gladly helped organize the dragon boat racing festival. Acting as co-chair and later chair of an amazing committee, she helped the Dragon Boat Festival run from 2002 to 2019. With her knowledge of sport, she was able to have the Festival designated as a qualifier for more national tournaments. This brought more competitive out of town teams while still encouraging locals of all ages and abilities to participate. She was delighted that this venture was able to raise more than $800,000 for the new hospital and other local charities. As “the Dragon Lady” Sue received awards both from her local Rotary Club and from Town of Parry Sound Mayor, Jamie McGarvey. Since the end of the Dragon Boat Festival, Sue continues to help out with the Rotary 3-Pitch Tournament.
For over 15 years Sue has taken the Parry Sound lead in selling the Daily Cash Lottery tickets (Calendars) to raise money for Hospice and other local charities. For this she received a Rotary District Award.
Involvement in Rotary has also helped Sue pursue her interest in travel not just as a tourist. By taking part in Rotary humanitarian projects over the years, Sue has been to the Philippines, Dominican Republic (Haitian border), Zambia, Nepal, Honduras, and Cambodia.
Along with Rotary, Sue continues to usher at the Stockey Centre and Festival of the Sound. She also acted as a volunteer and is now a Board member of Parry Sound Victim Services.
Her hobbies include sailing, kayaking, long hikes while walking her dog, horticulture, Nature Club, golf, reading, and knitting. (Boredom is not a word in her vocabulary.)
Sue Whitley has received many awards and recognitions over the years. In 1995, the Year of the Coach, Sue was recognized by the province. In 1996, Sue received an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Leadership in School Sport Award. She has been recognized for her volunteerism with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal (2012), and in 2017 with a Canada 150 certificate by the local MP. The Rotary Club of Parry Sound, chartered in 1936, gave hethe prestigious Paul Harris Award.
For 26 years, Sue feels incredibly lucky to have been encouraged, assisted and loved by her co-vivant, Dick Facer. They laughed, travelled and danced. She loves her “inherited” family – his children, now friends. Life is richer with them, the grandchildren and now a great granddaughter.
Continuing to participate in many community activities Sue hopes will help her to stay young into her next decade.
