Learning Transforms

2019 UVic Education Distinguished Alumni of the Year award winner Alex Nelson is recognized for his lifetime of achievements to change the world of sports and recreation for Indigenous peoples and for his work in suicide prevention. Nelson graduated from the University of Victoria Faculty of Education’s Recreation and Health program. Sports can provide youth with inspirations and role models. Inspired by his own life and his uncle, Nelson coaches, creates sports programming and believes in the ability of sport to foster personal skill and builds community. He helped create programs specifically for Indigenous youth. For Nelson, soccer was a chance to leave the school behind for a brief moment. He is a residential school survivor and discovered his love for soccer during his time in Alert Bay. “It is an opportunity and a time where you leave that institute, you leave that building, you leave that smell, the regimentation, the staff, and all that it stands for,” he says. “And now you have this freedom. You