Bob Pollard - I am an active EBOA member for 18 years. In that time I have served 3 terms on the EBOA executive in several functions. I have developed as an official by attending camps throughout Canada and the U.S.A. I have officiated up to the ACAC level an currently officiate recreational and high school basketball. I also have had the experience and pleasure of evaluating for the EBOA for the past 10 years and for the 7years I have evaluated at ASAA high school provincials. I have been involved with basketball as a player, coach and official. At he camps I have attended I have been exposed to top level instruction that I am able to bring to EBOA officials. I have a passion for the game of basketball and officiating. I am willing to work with all EBOA members we want to improve as officials to make the game and ourselves better.
Frankie Billingsley - My officiating experience spans a period of ten years across two different sports. In both fastball and basketball I have had the opportunity to work a number of different championships from Provincials to Nationals. My philosophy, regardless of the sport, is simple; to excel in this avocation of officiating, I believe it requires the perfect combination of rule knowledge, strong mechanics and interpersonal skills. Since I began officiating, I have had some successes and would enjoy the opportunity to share what I have learned and experienced with others. A great deal of my success can be attributed to the strong mentors I have had the fortune to work with along the way. I believe in mentorship and hope that I can help other officials who are striving to reach new levels or those who wish to fine tune their game.
Dave Buffie - I have been officiating as a member of EBOA/ABOA since October of 1971 (37 years), with 2 years of community league prior to joining our association. I would say my greatest accomplishment was making the ACAC men's list my first attempt at a time in our association when we only had 5 officials on the men's list other than the CIS (then called CIAU) officials-5 on Bears games and 3 for Pandas. I would like to offer members the opportunity to enjoy the game and try to do what is best for the game regardless of personal agendas. My personal philosophy is to be consistent, officiate the game in a fair manner and above all have fun and enjoy the experience of working with different partners, and inter-acting with coaches and players, many of whom I have had the privilege of knowing for many years. If I did not have fun and love the game of basketball I don't think I would have lasted this long.
Grant Simmons - Grant has been a part of the EBOA for over 20+ years. He is a teacher of many sorts both on and off the court. Grant provides a no nonsense approach with the understanding that challenging officials to grow and succeed at all levels benefits us all. Grant has been an ACAC official for many years and is always willing to lend an ear or jump into games to help any officials' development.
Angie Celino - I have been competitively involved in the game as a player and a coach for many years before becoming a referee. This will be my 9th season officiating; I have been to 2 Provincial & officiated in several High School City Final Tournaments. I have been evaluating Community officials for the past 3 years and this will be my 2nd year in the Mentorship program. I can attribute some of my accomplishments from my mentors, evaluators, peers and the numerous officials camp I attend so that I can learn and improve my skills and knowledge regarding the game each year. I hope to share this to other officials who are striving to go to the next level or just to improve their performance on the court. I believe that officiating requires combination of rule knowledge, strong mechanics, communication and teamwork. Most importantly don't forget to enjoy the game and have fun!
Orville Chubb - I've been officiating for 10 years, just long enough to know something and not so long as to have forgotten what I didn't know. My greatest accomplishments in officiating can be summed up in two situations. One was after an intense final playoff game a player came to me and said "Thanks that was a lot of fun". Another time after emotional situation was diffused the player came to me and said "Thanks you kept me from doing something stupid in front of my family". For me officiating is about keeping the game safe and fair and having some fun at the same time.
Gil Demerais -I'm a retired school teacher/administrator and am currently the Assignor for EBOA. I began officiating basketball in 1967, the last 18 years of which have been with EBOA, and my current rank is Intermediate-A. I've evaluated officials at all levels of High School Provincials. I look forward to working with you.
John Irvine -I am currently entering my seventh year of officiating basketball, and my fourth in Edmonton. I currently work at the ACAC level where I am a crew chief at the men's level. I enjoy help aspiring officials attain their goals whatever they may be, I was an evaluator at the 1A girl's provincial last year, and I am also a provincial evaluator at the men's level in fastball. I think my experience at both basketball and fastball evaluating as given me the tools to help both the experienced and less experienced official improve their game and also attain goals that are rewarding to the official.
Kristen Kwiatek -I have been involved in basketball for 25 years mainly as a player, few years of coaching and the past 8 years of officiating. I have had the privilege of officiating several Provincial tournaments as well as a summer Nationals for the U17 Girls. I have been an ACAC (College) official for the past 4 years and a CIS (University) official for the last 3. I have also been involved in evaluating Community officials for the past 3 seasons. I've received positive feedback and results from the officials. As this is the second year of the Mentorship program which I was a part of last year, I feel it's an essential part of developing officials as it benefits everyone involved. Through the Mentorship program my goal is to help each other learn to communicate better - teaching each other. I am here to help any young official(s) as they start out their Officiating career. I also look forward to working with those individuals who are a few years into their officiating career who desire to challenge themselves or gain a different perspective on what they can do to get better games or advance in levels. I feel it is imperative for officials to strive to improve not only in skill but also to enhance the game, making it more enjoyable and fair for all involved. It's important to challenge ourselves and others -striving to make each other better. Doing our job to the best of our abilities while learning what it takes to be better game by game/season by season as we gain experience. Bottom line - HAVING FUN! I look forward to working with my Mentee(s) !
Stephane Labonne - Stephane is our current EBOA president. His involvement in basketball is as a player, coach and now as an official. Officiating for more than 10 years, Stephane rapidly rose through the ranks and currently officiates at the University and College levels. Committed to the EBOA and the success of the officials, he is supports the development of those people who want to better themselves, through knowledge and mentorship.
Cam Magnan - This will be my 25th year officiating basketball and have had a passion for the sport many years before that. I am presently on the ACAC list and I am still having fun out there. I have helped out as an evaluator for over 10 years at all levels up to and including high school. Having been a provincial evaluator twice now I look forward to doing many more. I believe that an official goes out to do their best. However, all of us need help to correct various aspects of our game for different reasons. I prefer to make an official think instead of telling/pointing out to them what they did or didn't do.
Teigan Lawton - My Name is Teigan Lawton. I have been officiating for 5 years. I have been fortunate to be provincially nominated 4 out of 5 of my years. I have had varying successes at each provincial I went to. I would not presume to be arrogant enough to say that I did it all on my own. I had a tendency to "leach" onto officials, as there was no "Mentorship" program available. I have officiated across the province, and this is the first program like this I have seen. I think it is an honor to be a mentor, as it provides an opportunity both as mentor to give back, and an official to grow. And, given that we are never perfect; opportunities to grow are awesome!!!!
Jim Morrow - I have been around Basketball as a coach (24 yrs) and official (6 yrs). The greatest accomplishment as an official was to get the gold metal game at the Basketball clinic I attended at Gonzaga university. I believe an official should demonstrate consistency, control rough play, show knowledge of the rules, enforce the rules fairly, and communicate with partner(s), players and coaches.
Vlad Eshenko - Vlad has been around the game of basketball at all levels for quite some time. His involvement in basketball includes able body and wheelchair basketball officiating. Vlad is a former CIS official and has travelled the world on a FIBA Wheelchair Basketball Card. Vlad is a committed evaluator to the ACAC and offers his time for younger officials to see their development and the success of those individuals. He is supports the development of those people who want to better themselves, through knowledge and mentorship.
Neil Pollard - I have been reffing eleven years with the eboa and two years before that with eyba. I have been to four different provincial tournaments and have done semi finals and bronze medal games. My greatest accomplishment as an official was going to midget nationals last summer. I hope to offer people a new some of my experiences from camps I've been to. As well I would like to get an opportunity to discuss officiating with some members I have not yet have had the chance to work with. I believe that officiating basketball is about us trying to establish a flow to the game, giving both sides equal opportunities to win based on their teams skill and enjoying myself while refereeing.
Susan Yackabowski - I have been involved in the sport of basketball for many years. My experience first began as a former ACAC/CIS player and m. I am going into my 9th season of officiating and have not looked back. I currently have the privilege of working in the ACAC and CIS leagues and this past summer had the opportunity to work some IBL games. I have attended Provincial Tournaments ranging from 2A-4A Boys and Girls Tournaments as well as the 2007 CCAA Women's Nationals. If I could assist any official to give them the tools and guidance to make their goals come true and put them in a place when opportunity knocks when they are ready as I had for me when I was hired for NCAA Div 2/3 this past summer. I have been evaluating officials for the past 5 years. Hard work, perseverance, dedication, professionalism, goal setting, rules knowledge and treating partner with respect are just a few qualities I would love to pass along.
Matt Rowan - This is my sixth year of officiating with the EBOA (Edmonton Basketball Officials Association) and is currently officiating at the College Men and Women's level. I have officiated at the 3A Boys Provincials, the 4A Girls Provincials and most recently the 2007 Canadian National Under 17 Women's Championship. More importantly however I have an amazing family with my wife Jackie, we have two incredibly wonderful while at the same time crazy daughters, Mya (3 ¾ years old) and Megan (1 ¾ years old). I believe in a direct yet tactful approach to evaluating, in which the most important aspect is what you are willing to do to improve.
Rick Shinkaruk - I have been officiating for 12 years. Some of my accomplishments are: 2004 Men's 4A High School Provincial Championship, 2008 Men's 4A High School Provincial Championship, ACAC Men's and Women's play-off games 2005-2008 2008 Women's ACAC Final Four tournament- Bronze metal game. I want to provide the members with some of my insight into the game of basketball - basic fundamentals, mechanics and positioning, presence, rule application, strategy and tactics; where communication and game awareness are essential. My personal philosophy of officiating is that "we never stand alone" and "we should never forget where we came from" - the game of basketball is a team game and by the same token officiating is a team game. No one who has reached a high level without the support of dedicated mentors. At this time in my career, I want to provide mentorship and support to the younger members of our association.
Derek Sorensen -I have been officiating for 8 years, and am starting my 5th season of acac and 3rd season of CIS. My most memorable officiating moments were attending the midget boy's nationals in '06, and the CCAA women's nationals in '08. The most fun I've had is doing the Chill and Energy games the past couple seasons. As for what I can offer a Mentee, is to pass along a lot of good advice I've been given by my previous mentors. As well as giving constructive feedback on call selection, mechanics, and game composure.
Alan Ward - officiated with EBOA for 21 years, reffed at six provincials and two Summer Games - reffing philosophy: no felonies allowed, let the players set the tone but help them find it if needed, have fun...you're being paid to watch a basketball game! - proudest moment: watching new refs faces when they get it after you have taught them something that cost you a big chunk of your posterior, working community games with my son when he started (hoping he will return someday)
Lanny White - I have been officiating basketball for 25 years. My greatest accomplishment from an officiating standpoint would be a semi final at the CIS Men's and a semi final at the CIS Women's. I have been fortunate enough to have been at the CIS Men's championship seven times as well as two CIS Women championships. In my opinion it is not just knowing the rules (which is important) it is also about being a good partner, having confidence and a good presence on the floor. All of these will help you deal with any situations on the floor that arise. Whether you are a beginner or a senior official I am fully committed to help you as an official.
