Active Fredericton

Coach…Father…DMAC…Husband…”that guy on the dance floor”. He’s a legend in these parts. Mr. Donnie McPhee!

AF: Donnie, just how long have you been playing in the local leagues? Since the dinosaurs?

DMAC: I actually started playing Ultimate in Fredericton before there was a league (1994). Up until this time I was big into football, but one day in the spring of 1994 a grad student at work (Andrew MacDougall) mentioned that he was looking for people to start playing this ‘cool’ sport of Ultimate. I made a deal with him that if he played on my football team I’d try this ‘cool’ Ultimate thing. He played one game of Football which happened to be my last game as my eyes were open to this whole new world of ULTIMATE. The next summer (1995) he and I along with a few others (Rex Bolden, Greg Ericson, Steve Seabrook and others) started the first ever 4 team FUL league. And look at you now!

Ultimate fever bit hard and at one time I was running the league, the competitive program ‘SPAWN’ along with running 4 tournaments Parlee Beach , UFO, FrUIT Bowl and MUC Bowl.

So, I’ve being playing Ultimate year round for almost 19 years and plan on continuing as long as a team will take me on their roster!

AF: Wow! So, outside of our leagues, what else do you do (work/community…etc)?

DMAC: Outside of being a full time dad (semi retired now that the boys have grown to manhood) I work as a field biologist in the area of conservation genetics for NRCAN. I’ve been coaching basketball for the past 22 years (YMCA, NMBA, George St., Devon, BNB) and currently coach the LHHS JV girl’s team. I’ve also remain pretty active in coaching/ advising the competitive Ultimate program (SPAWN) here in Fredericton .

AF: So, you basically never sleep! Tell us what a day in the life of DMAC is like?

DMAC: I’m one of those earlier risers, up at 5:45 am to work by 7:00am, but then back home by 3:30pm and ready to start the real day. This usually includes an hour long bike ride with my dog OKA, 2 hours of either coaching and practicing with (SPAWN), playing league ultimate, coaching basketball, going to the gym followed by hanging out with my lovely wife Loretta.

AF: Amazing. What’s your most fond memory from Ultimate over the years?

DMAC: With out a doubt it’s been to play with both my boys, Ryan and Breton (and my wife Loretta) and their friends, and watching the positive influence Ultimate has had on them. I’m so proud of my boys and I truly believe that playing Ultimate, with its sense of spirit, fairness, gender equality and community, has made all of us better people.

AF: That’s really great. Do you think you can you sum up your league experience in one word?

DMAC: No….. but I could write a very long book about it!!!!

AF: You certainly could! Thanks for taking some time out of your very busy schedule to answer some questions. Not many people in Fredericton realize just how much blood, sweat and tears you’ve put into this sport!

Thanks DMAC!

Lucie has been a driving force behind the recreational and competitive ultimate scene in Fredericton for a number of years now. She’s known to many people as “Lavoie” and loved by all of them.

AF: Lucie, outside of playing in our leagues what else do you do around town (work/community…etc)?

Lucie: I’ve been a wildlife biologist for seven years with the government and am now currently in a manager’s position. Outside of work, I have been involved as a volunteer with the Relay For Life event for the last 4 years as a co-chair last year and again for the 2013 edition. I am also on the core volunteer committee of the best musical event on the East Coast, Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival! I’ve been a member of the SPAWN ultimate club for numerous years. So outside of league, I am still playing the best sport around which allowed me to travel all around the world!

Although this year I have been taking a bit of a break as I just purchased my first home! I am quite occupied with my new playground. I recently earned my Fitness NB certification and I am teaching fitness classes in our workplace gym. I love it!

AF: At least you’re not too busy or anything! What’s a typical day in the life of Lavoie like?

Lucie: My days are full of rainbows, unicorns and butterflies…no I am not on drugs, I just love life and see the best of it. I am living my dream. Yeah well for some people a dream is having a big boat, big car and tons of money. I have none of that, but I have all that I need. I have a great job, loving family, an amazing partner that puts on smile on my face everyday. The most adorable dog and most of all awesome friends, which most are Ultimate Frisbee friends!

AF: That’s really awesome. You were running the show for quite a while in Fredericton, but how long have you been playing in the local leagues exactly?

Lucie: I started playing back in 2002 and moved to Freddy in 2004 so I’ve been playing league for over 10 years. I realize that really quick when 20 years old are easily beating me on the field. Good thing that handlers are still in demand.

AF: What’s your most fond memory from league over the years?

Lucie: Before Active Fredericton I was running Fredericton Ultimate’s leagues for a number of years and I got to meet tons of people. The only reason why I gave it up is that I knew I was leaving it in the right hands!

AF: Can you sum up your league experience in one word?

Lucie: “ooohhhhyeaahhhh”

Next time you see this lovely lady around town give her a big thanks for all she’s done over the years here. Fredericton, the ultimate scene and her workplace would not be as great as they are if it wasn’t for her. Thanks Lucie!

No intro required for this one! If you don’t yet know the real “Mayor of Fredericton” then don’t you feel silly right about now.

Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only, Meghan MacAfee!

(The one on the left. Duh.)

AF: Thanks for taking some time to chat with us today Meg. Let’s get right to it. Outside of our leagues what else do you do (work/community…etc)?

Meg: I work at Service New Brunswick as a Human Resources Advisor – trying to help people enjoy and feel connected to their work (I really like my job!). On non-frisbee nights I play rugby with the Fredericton Loyalists RFC and spent a lot of my free time outside work volunteering on the Board of Directors for the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. The festival is one of my favourite things about living in Fredericton – we’re pretty spoiled to get to see such amazing local, Canadian and international acts here at home and I love helping to make that happen. Having just moved back from a year in Alberta this spring I can’t say enough about being home – and being a new resident of Devon!

AF: Agree 100%! Harvest rocks! So what’s a day in the life of Meghan Mac like?

Meg: This time of year it can be a bit busy, but always an adventure – I’ll have a lunchtime planning meeting for Harvest most days. After work it is off to rugby, frisbee or sometimes an evening meeting for Harvest. Dinner, Read, Bed, Repeat. Any chance for downtime is normally time spent cooking and hanging out with family and friends perhaps sampling some delicious local Picaroons products.

AF: How long have you been playing in the local leagues?

Meg: According to my calculations this is my 5th season. Feels like just yesterday when I first pulled on my Hell’s Satan’s jersey and asked “who is that cranky guy and why is he always yelling at me?” (It was Cowboy and I was probably goofing around). I’m having a blast playing with TWAT this year! It is wild how many random people I’ve met at league that have become great friends over the years – that social part is what keeps me coming back.

AF: Everyone loves the social side of our leagues that’s for sure. Assuming you can pick just one, what would you say is your most fond memory from league over the years?

Meg: I can’t think of one specific one, really. I loved our season as the Screeching Flamingos of Doom – the lawn ornaments and ridiculous cheers still amuse me. When I think of league I just think of the fun of hanging out, throwing the disc around and laughing hysterically most of the time.

AF: Can you sum up your league experience in one word?

Meg: hilarious

Well what can we say after that? She’s one of Fredericton’s crown jewels and we all owe a big thank you for all that you do to make Fredericton so special. Thanks again Meghan!

Probably one of the most positive-minded individuals around. We’re fortunate to have the lovely Nadege Cormier playing in our leagues once again this year. You’ll find her hucking to strangers on the Ultimate field and dodging balls with Bazinga!

AF: Outside of our leagues, what else do you do (work/community…etc)?

NC: I work at Accreon as a Project Manager which is the most awesomest place to work! People are great, company is great, everything about that place is great! I also have a volunteer position as the Community Engagement Committee Chair for the Fredericton SPCA. I have a real passion for helping our community understand compassion and I truly believe that there is a real problem when someone can’t show compassion for a being as helpless as an animal. Because of that, I believe that’s the right place to start to try to eliminate abuse, bullying, etc. So, as you can now tell, I’m a bit of an idealist My motto is “…if you can’t help others, at least don’t hurt them. ” – Dalai Lama

AF: What’s a day in the life of Nadege like?

NC: My life is pretty standard… go to work, workout (I box in my home boxing gym and I’ve recently started Crossfit and I’m a HUGE fan!!!), spend time with my dogs and my spouse and spend as much time outside as possible (hiking, etc. )! Healthy eating is also a huge component of my life. A body well-fed and well-rested just works better to keep up with all of what I want to do!

AF: How long have you been playing in the local leagues?

NC: I started playing league in 2002 which seems like forever ago! I started playing in Moncton when the league consisted of about 10 people getting together at a random field. Then I moved to Florenceville where there was no league. I started one up and we had about 30 people playing. Then I moved to Fredericton and I’ve been playing here ever since!

AF: What’s your most fond memory from league over the years?

NC: My most fond memory has to be the Sotally Tober league party I hosted a few years back! It’s just to say that Ultimate goes well beyond the field! The game is amazing but the social aspect is just fantastic! A bunch of my Hucking Strangers teammates are going to get together for a game of paintball soon and I’m pretty sure this will go right up there in the realm of “awesome memories”!

AF: Can you sum up your league experience in one word?

NC: FUN!

Nadege has been a member of many of our sports leagues over the years and we’re glad to have such great support from her! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us.

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages. Degeneration-X proudly brings to you…Matt…Mc…Guire!

Over the years few players have shown as much love, dedication and enthusiasm for Fredericton’s recreational Ultimate scene as Matt. McGuire (or Gizzle as he’s known to many) can be seen rocking his yellow Hawaii’an every week on the IRP.

AF: How long have you been playing in our leagues, Gizzle?

McG: I’ve been playing league for a while now, it kinda crept up on me…might be seven or eight years now. I’ve been playing for the IRP – RESPECT! (I wouldn’t have that any other way either) I love league -everyone is having a great time, whether you’re on the field, on the sidelines, or headed to the social afterwards!

AF: Outside of our leagues what else do you do (work/community…etc)?

MM: I enjoy keeping busy with things I love to do: I teach, I make soap, I make music – those are the big things. But I also love to camp, travel, and hang with my buddies. A typical day for me involves putting the car into 5th gear and not slowing down until the wee hours of morning – wouldn’t have it any other way.

AF: Speaking of teaching. Tell us about the award you received. We heard it’s highly unusual for such a young teacher to receive it.

MM: The award I won is the Minister’s Excellence in Teaching Award which “recognizes and honours dynamic educators who display outstanding skills in supporting the needs of diverse learners at the provincial level.” I was really quite taken back by even being nominated for this award. I was absolutely thrilled to stand amongst other incredible educators who have been tirelessly dedicating their whole careers to making a difference in their students’ lives, and me only being in my forth year of teaching. New Brunswick has some of the best teachers in the world and I’m very honoured to be considered one of them. The whole experience was certainly a lifetime achievement for me; one that I will always hold dear to my heart.

AF: That’s awesome, Matt! So back to the league. You’ve signed on as a sponsor with your home-based soap company once again. Why’s that?

I’m sponsoring league again this year because it’s a lot of fun and Solstice Soap Co. fits well with the sport. Solstice is an all-natural hefty bar of soap for people looking for something quality but without all the chemicals. Active Fredericton Card holders get $1 off every bar!

AF: What is your fondest memory from Fredericton’s ultimate leagues?

MM: My fondest memory of league is too close to pinpoint but I’d say it’s between winning four championships with the IRP and seeing WaScotty and Scotty play in a flawless matchup on the field.

AF: Can you sum up your league experience in one word?

MM: BAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!!

We’d like to thank Matt for his time and support.

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